He was a drummer born Harold Simon Belsky in Holyoke, Massachusetts who relocated to Connecticut when he was seven years old and started playing the drums when he was eight. He then went to California with his family when he was about 14 years old in 1943.
From the time he went to California he started playing drums in the big band and jazz genres, and after having lessons from the drummers Roy Knapp and Gene Krupa his first professional music sessions began in Chicago clubs and later with Count Basie’s big band and touring with Tommy Sands and Patti Page.
He went on to work as a successful session musician during the rock and roll era which led to getting established as a member of “The Wrecking Crew” which became known as that after he used it as a nickname for them. They were the house band for Phil Spector and saw him performing on many hits of the day with his drum beat being imitated by others. He is remembered for his recognisable drumming on “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes and in the disco-era he was credited with popularising the “disco beat” with a sound that entailed opening and closing the two cymbals and pedal known as the hi-hat.
He worked as a session musician up until the 1980s when the work lessened due to the appearance of drum machines, electronics and computers. He did, however, continue to play on advertising jingles before going into semi-retirement.
After stepping back from his work as a drummer he later worked as a security guard.
In March 2019 he died of natural causes in Palm Desert, California when he was 90 years old. Artists including Brian Wilson, Ronnie Spector and Ringo Starr praised his musicianship and sent their condolences along with many others.
He left behind a legacy of being one of the most in-demand drummers in rock and roll history and playing on an estimated 6,000 singles and 35,000 recordings. 40 of his single recordings achieved the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. These include “Windy” by The Association, “Help Me Rhonda” and “I Get Around” by The Beach Boys, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain and Tennille, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “Top of the World” by The Carpenters, “He’s a Rebel” by The Crystals, “Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond, “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” by The 5th Dimension, “Monday Monday” by The Mamas & The Papas, “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family, “Dizzy” by Tommy Roe, “Theme from Mahogany” by Diana Ross, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, “Somethin’ Stupid” by Frank and Nancy Sinatra, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra, “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher, “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand, “The Happening” by The Supremes and many others. Wherever and on whatever music he recorded he had a rubber stamp he marked them with saying “Hal Blaine Strikes Again”.
Some of the numerous artists he worked with include Theresa Brewer, Elkie Brooks, Alessi Brothers, The Association, Chet Baker, Freddy Cannon, Captain & Tennille, Al Casey, Roseanne Cash, Mama Cass (Cass Elliot), Rosemary Clooney, Leonard Cohen, Doris Day, Delaney & Bonnie, Dion, Fats Domino, Judith Durham, Jan & Dean, Farm, Ruthann Friedman, Jerry Garcia, Bobby Gentry, Terry Gibbs, Lesley Gore, The Grass Roots, Albert Hammond, Harpers Bizarre, Richard Harris, Lee Hazlewood, Thelma Houston, Frankie Laine, Love, Billy May, Roger McGuinn, Barry McGuire, Rod McKuen, Roger Miller, Hugh Montenegro, Gerry Mulligan, Juice Newton, Laura Nyro, The Partridge Family, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Riders of the Purple Sage, Johnny Rivers, Tommy Roe, Del Shannon, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Spanky & Our Gang, The Turtles, Mason Williams, Al Wilson and Nancy Wilson.
Albums he performed on are far too many to mention but a select few include his own, Deuces, “T’s,” Roadsters & Drums, Drums! Drums! A Go Go, Psychedelic Percussion, Have Fun!!! Play Drums!!! and Buh-Doom! along with Homecoming and Hat Trick by America, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra by The Beach Boys and the RPO, 20 Essential Tracks from… by The Byrds, Fiddle & a Song by Byron Berline, Anyway the Wind Blows: The Anthology by J.J. Cale, The Legacy 1961-2002 by Glen Campbell, Close To You by The Carpenters, Johnny 99 by Johnny Cash, Cherish by David Cassidy, The Pye Anthology by Petula Clark, Night Beat and “Ain’t That Good News” by Sam Cooke, Back Home Again by John Denver, The Greatest Hits (1966-1992) and In My Lifetime by Neil Diamond, Fables by England Dan & John Ford Coley, The Everly Brothers Sing by The Everly Brothers, Up Up and Away by The 5th Dimension, Angel Clare by Art Garfunkel, Evangeline by Emmy Lou Harris, Surfin’ Around the World by Bruce Johnston, Rock ‘n’ Roll by John Lennon, All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology by Jerry Lee Lewis, If You Can Believe Yours Eyes and Ears by The Mamas & The Papas, Once in a While by Dean Martin, The Monkees and Instant Replay by The Monkees, The Wichita Train Whistle Sings by Michael Nesmith, Hollywood Dreamers by Harry Nilsson, Blue Hawaii, Fun in Acapulco and Girls! Girls! Girls!” by Elvis Presley, Paul Simon 1964/1993 by Paul Simon, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel, A Christmas Gift For You and 20 Greatest Hits by Phil Spector, Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield, Cameo by Dusty Springfield, Katy Lied and Greatest Hits by Steely Dan, Barbra Joan Streisand by Barbra Streisand, Andy by Andy Williams, Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson , The Wrecking Crew by The Wrecking Crew, The First Sessions by Warren Zevon, countless compilations and numerous others.
He performed on six consecutive Grammy “Record of the Year” Awards and in March 2000 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010 he was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and in 2018 was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Association Recordings
Windy (Ruthann Friedmann)
Glen Campbell Recordings
Honestly Loved (Leo Graham/Glen Castleberry)
Capitol Records 3808 (US 45)
Houston (I’m Comin’ To See You) (David Paich)
Capitol 3808 (US 45)
Tommy Roe recordings
Dizzy (Tommy Roe/Freddy Weller)
ABC Records – 45-11164 (US)
Sources:
- https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/hal-blaine
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Blaine
- https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/idhitthatpodcast/episodes/2019-03-11T16_52_17-07_00
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hal-blaine-mn0000662463/biography
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hal-blaine-mn0000662463/credits
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/229494-Hal-Blaine