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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBELEW, Carl(b 21 April '31, Salina OK; d 31 Oct. '90) Country singer, songwriter. Worked as plumber; became regular on Town Hall Party TV show, Compton CA '56. Joined Louisiana Hayride, began writing hit songs: "Am I That Easy To Forget' (later a big pop hit for Engelbert Humperdinck), "Stop The World And Let Me Off', "Lonely Street' (hit for Andy Williams '59; often credited to Elvis Presley, who never wrote a song in his life, due to reference to "Heartbreak Hotel' in lyric). Records on Four Star label '55-7, Decca '58-62: own hit with "Am I That Easy To Forget' '59, also "Too Much To Lose' '60; on RCA '62-9 for "Hello Out There' '62, "In The Middle Of A Memory' '64, "Crystal Chandelier' '65, "Boston Jail' '66. Wrote big hits "What's He Doing In My World' (Eddy Arnold '65), "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon' (Charlie Walker, '67), "That's When I See The Blues In Your Pretty Brown Eyes' (Jim Reeves, '68). Rejoined Decca '70, teamed with Betty Jean Robinson for duets "All I Need Is You' '71, "Living Under Pressure', LP When My Baby Sings His Song '72. "Welcome Back To My World' '74 solo hit on MCA; then worked in publishing. |