They formed as The Flames in 1949, in Watts, Los Angeles, at a talent show where members of various high school groups got together. The original members were Bobby Byrd (lead), David Ford, Curlee Dinkins and Willie Ray Rockwell. Rockwell was sometimes replaced by Clyde Tillis, and Ford sometimes sang lead. Their first paying gig was at Johnny Otis's Barrelhouse Club. They first recorded in 1950 for the Selective label, and the following year, billed as The Hollywood Four Flames, released "Tabarin", a song written by Murry Wilson (father of The Beach Boys). They later recorded another Wilson song, "I'll Hide My Tears".
Over the years the group, under various names, is believed to have recorded for about nineteen different record labels, including Aladdin and Specialty. Although they had no big hits for several years, they were a successful local act in the Los Angeles area. The group also had a series of personnel changes, with Rockwell being replaced by Gaynel Hodge, and for a short while Dinkins being replaced by Curtis Williams. Hodge and Williams, with Jesse Belvin, were co-writers of The Penguins' "Earth Angel". In 1953 they released the sketch for this song "I Know" on the label Swing Time. Believed to be the first song to present the 6/8 piano-attacca known from later '50s hits such as "Only You" and "Ain't That a Shame".
By 1954, the group were usually billed as The Hollywood Flames, but also recorded as The Turks, The Jets, and The Sounds. David Ford and Gaynel Hodge recorded with Jesse Belvin and Hodge's brother Alex, as The Tangiers, before Hodge left The Hollywood Flames in 1955 to form a new version of The Turks. He was replaced by Earl Nelson, who had previously recorded with Byrd as The Voices, and with Byrd later formed the duo Bob & Earl.
In 1957, the group - Byrd, Ford, Dinkins and Nelson - signed with Class Records, where Byrd was renamed "Bobby Day". The group recorded as The Hollywood Flames, as Bobby Day & the Satellites, and as Earl Nelson & the Pelicans. In July 1957, Bobby Day & the Satellites recorded "Little Bitty Pretty One", which was covered more successfully by Thurston Harris. Later that year, The Hollywood Flames – with Nelson singing lead – released "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz", co-written by Byrd, which reached #5 on the R&B chart and #11 on the pop chart.
Byrd (alias Day) then left The Hollywood Flames, but continued to release singles, at first as Bobby Day & the Satellites, and then as a solo performer. His greatest success came in 1958 with "Rockin' Robin". On August 4, 1958, the Hollywood Flames appeared at the Apollo Theater, as part of a Dr. Jive show. Others on the show were Larry Williams, The Cadillacs, Little Anthony & the Imperials, The Skyliners, Frankie Lymon, the Clintonian Cubs, and Eugene Church.
After this, Curtis Williams quit. The new members were tenor Eddie Williams (former lead of the Aladdins) and baritone Ray Brewster who joined in 1958. (Ray had been in the Penguins in 1956 and both Eddie and Ray had been in the later Colts/Fortunes with Don Wyatt.) Then, the whole group picked up and moved to New York, after securing a contract with Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary.
In December 1959, they had their first Atco release: "Every Day, Every Way" (led by Earl Nelson) b/w "If I Thought You Needed Me" (fronted by Eddie Williams). Atco arranged for them to appear at the Apollo Theater to push the record (the week of December 25). Others on the show were: Lloyd Price, Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, and The Five Keys. They were back at the Apollo on February 19, 1960 for another Dr. Jive show. This time they shared the stage with Johnny Nash, The Flamingos, Nappy Brown, Tiny Topsy, The Centurians, Eugene Church, Barrett Strong, Jean Sampson, and The Fidelitys.
In April 1960, Atco released "Ball And Chain" led by Earl Nelson. "I Found A Boy" was sung by Eddie Williams and an unknown female vocalist who recorded this one record with the Hollywood Flames. At the same session with Atco Ray and the Flames also recorded "Devil Or Angel" and "Do You Ever Think of Me".
The Hollywood Flames made one record for Chess out of their Chicago studio "Gee" and "Yes They Do", released in March 1961. In 1962 Ray left the Flames and became lead vocalist of the New York-based Cadillacs.
The Hollywood Flames continued to record for several more years, with a fluctuating line-up, the only constant being David Ford. The last version of the group split up around 1967. Earl Nelson, also known as Jackie Lee, died on July 12, 2008. Bobby Byrd died in 1990. (Not to be confused with the James Brown collaborator Bobby Byrd).
The song "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" was featured in the 2001 film Blow.
Discography
Singles
Year Title Peak chart
positions Record Label B-side
US R&B
1952 "Young Girl" — — Recorded In Hollywood "The Glory of Love"
1954 "Peggy" — — Decca Records "Ooh La La"
1957 "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" 11 5 Ebb Records "Crazy"
1958 "Strollin' on the Beach" — — "Frankenstein's Den"
"A Little Bird" — — "Give Me Back My Heart"
"Chains of Love" — — "Let's Talk It Over"
1959 "I'll Be Seeing You" — — "Just for You"
"Much Too Much" — — "In the Dark"
"So Good" — — "There Is Something on Your Mind"
"Every Day, Every Way
(I'll Always Be in Love with You)" — — Atco Records "If I Thought You Needed Me"
1960 "Ball and Chain" — — "I Found a Boy"
"Devil or Angel" — — "Do You Ever Think of Me"
"My Heart's on Fire" — — "Money Honey"
1961 "Gee" — 26 Chess Records "Yes They Do"
1962 "Elizabeth" — — Goldie Records "Believe in Me"
1963 "Drop Me a Line" — — Vee-Jay Records "Letter to My Love (Goodnight)"
1965 "Dance Senorita" — — Symbol Records "Annie Don't Love Me No More"
1966 "I'm Coming Home" — — "I'm Gonna Stand by You"
Wheel Of Fortune
The Hollywood Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goes spinnin' around.
Will the arrow point my way.
Will this be my day.
Oh, wheel of fortune,
Please don't pass me by,
Let me know the magic of,
While the wheel is spinning, spinning, spinning,
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame.
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning,
I'll be yearning, yearning for love's precious flame.
Oh, wheel of fortune,
I'm hopin', somehow,
If you ever smile on me,
Please let it be now.
While the wheel is spinning, spinning, spinning,
I'll not dream of winning fortune or even fame.
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning,
I'll be yearning, yearning for love's precious flame.
Oh, wheel of fortune,
I'm hopin', somehow,
If you ever smile on me,
Please let it be now.
The Hollywood Flames's song "Wheel of Fortune" is a powerful and emotive ode to the power of fate and the role that chance and luck can play in our lives. The song is all about the anticipation and excitement that comes when we stand at the edge of the unknown, facing the uncertainty of the future and wondering what lies ahead.
The lyrics describe the titular "wheel of fortune" as it spins and turns, symbolizing the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of fate. The singer of the song is full of hope and yearning, praying that the arrow on the wheel will point their way and that they will finally receive the kiss and sigh they have been longing for.
Throughout the song, the singer makes it clear that they are not interested in fame or fortune - all they want is love. They know that the wheel of fortune is fickle and unpredictable, but they cannot help but hope that it will smile on them and bring them the love they so desperately desire. The song is a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the way that even the smallest glimmer of possibility can keep us going in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
The wheel of fortune,
Life is like a spinning wheel of fate.
Goes spinnin' around.
Life is full of unpredictable twists and turns.
Will the arrow point my way.
I wonder if luck will be on my side.
Will this be my day.
I hope that today is the day I have been waiting for.
Oh, wheel of fortune,
I address fate itself.
Please don't pass me by,
I hope that luck doesn't overlook me.
Let me know the magic of,
I hope to experience the enchantment of love.
A kiss and a sigh.
The simple yet beautiful moments of romantic love.
While the wheel is spinning, spinning, spinning,
As fate is being decided and events unfolding.
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame.
I am not interested in financial gain or fame during this moment.
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning,
As fate continues to unfold.
I'll be yearning, yearning for love's precious flame.
I am longing for the feeling of being in love.
Oh, wheel of fortune,
Once again, I address fate itself.
I'm hopin', somehow,
I am wishing with all my heart.
If you ever smile on me,
If fate decides to favor me.
Please let it be now.
I hope that it will happen soon and not later.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BENNIE BENJAMIN, GEORGE DAVID WEISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind