He is a bassist and songwriter who started recording in the early ’60s and has appeared as a session musician with many artists through the course of his career as well as working as a member of the successful groups Rufus and Three Dog Night .
In 1971 he replaced Willie Weeks in the band Rufus and as well as seeing successful chart hits with them and appearing on two of their albums, his co-written single “Everlasting Love” hit No. 17 in the R&B chart in 1977.
In 1976 he replaced Jack Ryland in the group Three Dog Night and in 1985 he was the bass player for the group Animotion on their chart single “Obsession“.
Acts he has worked with include the Alessi Brothers, Big Ric, Stephen Bishop, Laura Branigan, Belinda Carlisle, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Lowell George, The Hellecasters, Russell Hitchcock, Booker T. Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Trini Lopez, Melissa Manchester, Billy Medley, Randy Newman, Juice Newton, Roy Orbison, Tony Orlando, Jim Photoglo , Eddie Rabbit, Rick Springfield and Andy Williams among numerous others.
The albums he has appeared on are many but a select few of them include Latest and Greatest by Lynn Anderson, Christmas Album by Air Supply , Love Me Again by Rita Coolidge , California Jukebox and Hearts on the Line by The Flying Burrito Brothers, Fate for Breakfast by Art Garfunkel , Don’t You Love Me Anymore by Engelbert Humperdinck, Love is on the Radio by Tom Jones, 25th Anniversary Edition by KC & The Sunshine Band, Paint Another Picture by Darlene Love, One Voice by Barry Manilow, Special Part of Me by Johnny Mathis , Love is the Place by Curtis Mayfield, Listen to the Band by The Monkees, Once Upon a Christmas by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton , Rags to Rufus by Rufus & Chaka Khan, Takin‘ It Easy by Seals & Crofts, Stop and Smell the Roses by Ringo Starr , Best Of… by Candi Staton, Coming Down Your Way by Three Dog Night , Rough by Tina Turner, Timeless by Bobby Vinton, Confessor by Joe Walsh and Hawks & Doves by Neil Young.
In the movies and on television his co-written “If You Give Your Heart” appears on the soundtrack of TV’s Miami Hustle, ” Come In My Mind” for 1995’s Raging Angels and “Everlasting Love” in 1982’s Night Shift.
Today he can be found living in Nashville having semi-retired.
The Burrito Brothers recording
She’s a Friend of a Friend (John Beland/Gib Guilbeau) (US promo 45)
Here he is playing bass on “Walkin’ in the Sun” by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan…
Sources:
- http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,44102,00.html
- http://www.harrynilsson.com/about-dennis-belfield.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_(band)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Dog_Night
- http://www.bassplayer.com/article/rufuss-tell-me/jun-06/20710
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dcfexqr5ldae~T4
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dcfexqr5ldae~2~T40B