Judd Hamilton

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Judd Hamilton
Birth nameJudd Douglas Hamilton
Born (1942-02-28) February 28, 1942 (age 79)
Republic, Washington
GenresSurf, Rock, Country
Occupation(s)Musician
Years active1960s - Present
LabelsDolton
American International
United Artists
RCA Victor
Associated actsJudd Hamilton & the Furys, The T-Bones, Dan Hamilton, Caroline Munro, Hamilton Brothers

Judd Hamilton is an American singer, musician, former band leader, writer, film producer, actor, inventor[citation needed], company director. As a musician he has recorded for the Dolton, American International, United Artists and RCA Victor labels. He has made a contribution to the music of California, as well as the Surf genre from his involvement with the T-Bones, and 1960s surf groups, The Avantis and The Ventures. As a film and television producer he was the executive producer for the film Maniac and The Last Horror Film, as well as the film's co-screenwriter, and the executive producer for The 7th Annual Sci-Fi Awards, a 90-minute TV special. He is the brother of Dan Hamilton of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds fame. He was also married to English actress Caroline Munro for a number of years.

Music career (Solo artist and musician)[]

1960s[]

In 1960, Hamilton was a freshman at Wenatchee Valley College. He entered a talent show with a song he wrote. He was approached by local KMEL radio DJ Don Bernier who was in the audience that night. Berner ran an idea by Hamilton that he record with a band called The Furys. A few weeks later Bernier drove Hamilton and the band over to a Spokane radio station where they recorded a few tracks.[1] The resulting single was "I’m Not Around Anymore" backed by "Little Lost Angel", released on Julian J-101.[2][3] In 1961 the single was reported in Billboard Music Week in the June 5 issue single as having some sales potential.[4] It went into the KMEL Top 10.[5] After that Hamilton & The Furys appeared at Wenatchee's Roller Rink as the opening act for The Ventures and Bobby Vee. Venture guitarist Bob Bogle invited Hamilton to look him up if he was ever in Hollywood.[6] With that invitation Hamilton left college in 1961 and headed to Hollywood where he was invited to work as a roadie for The Ventures.[7] Within a year Bogle decided to record a single with Hamilton, "On A Night Like This" bw "'Til I Found You", under the name of Shane. It was advertised in the June 23, 1961 issue of Billboard.[8][9]

In 1963, he recorded the Johnny Mercer classic "Dream", backed by The Ventures, along his own composition, "Your Only Boy" released on the Dolton label. It was given a four star rating which meant it had potential to be stocked by dealers and other outlets.[10][11]

In 1965, "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" by The T-Bones was climbing up the charts. The actual musicians that played on the recording were session musicians, The Wrecking Crew. Liberty Records wanted to promote the song. The problem was that the session musicians were doing too well where they were to take time out to go on the road. Hamilton was approached by Joe Saraceno, a producer for Liberty in November that year. He was given the job of putting together a band to play live as The T-Bones. He became the rhythm guitarist for the group and recruited his brother Dan as the lead-guitarist. He also got George Dee for the role of bass player, Gene Pello on drums and Richard Torres as keyboard and sax player. So a touring version of The T-Bones was formed.[12][13] When the group arrived back in Los Angeles, they were invited to play a benefit event at the Aquarius Theater. The other artists at the event included The Beach Boys, The Righteous Brothers, and Buffalo Springfield. By that time, Dan Hamilton and Richard Torres had left the band and were replaced by Tommy Reynolds, Joe Frank Carollo and Jay Allen. It was this version that Joe Saraceno brought into the studio to record Everyone's Gone to the Moon which would be the last studio album credited to The T-Bones. The photo of this line up appeared on the back of the album cover.

1970s to 1980s[]

By June 1970, Hamilton had completed his part in the Paramount Pictures film A Talent for Loving while his next solo single, a Johnny Cymbal composition, "Rules" and "Someday Morning", was released on AIR, the label connected with American International.[14][15] He was one of the first acts that was signed to the label.[16]

In 1971, he had two singles released on the United Artists label, "Mixed-Up Guy" by "Whatever Happened To July" and "Rose By Any Other Name" by "Don't Be Afraid Of The World". The following year he had "Long Road" by "C'Est La Vie" released on the label.[17]

Between 1975 and 1977, at least four singles were released with his wife Caroline Munro. Some were billed as Judd and Miss Munro. The couple divorced in 1982.[18]

Production, composer, A&R[]

In 1964 along with former Dolton Records label mate Bill Shaw, he was working for Regency Records as an A&R man.[19][20] One of the acts he recorded was Danny and the Memories who went on to be Neil Young's band Crazy Horse.[citation needed] He also brought together Pat and Lolly Vegas (later Redbone) his brother Dan, Leon Russell, Dave Gates (later Bread) and Gary Leeds (later the Walker Bros.) to record as The Avantis, producing "Gypsy Surfer" and the surf classic, "Wax 'em Down".[21][22] Backed with "Gypsy Surfer", it was released on Chancellor C-1144 and became a local hit. It was also picked by another label and bootlegged. The label was an infamous label called Astra.[23][24]

After recording the final T-Bones album Dan Hamilton rejoined the group for a Japanese tour with the lineup once again including the Hamilton Bros., along with Joe Frank Carollo and Tommy Reynolds. After the Japanese tour The T-Bones disbanded. Dan, Joe Frank and Tommy got back together in 1970 as Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. With Judd now living in London and helping from behind the scenes the former T-Bones signed a record deal with ABC Dunhill and their first single, "Don't Pull Your Love Out", became a million selling gold record, reaching No. 1 on Cashbox and No. 3 on the Billboard charts in 1971. Reynolds left the group in 1972 and with new member Alan Dennison on keyboards they eventually signed with Playboy Records and their first single, "Fallin' in Love", became their next gold record hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Charts in 1975.[25][26]

In 1990, after spending twenty years in Europe, Hamilton had returned to Spokane. He started his own small recording studio and was looking forward to working on a project with his brother Dan as the Hamilton Brothers. It didn't happen as Dan Hamilton died just before Christmas in 1994. In an interview that appeared in an article of the January 5, 1995 edition of the Spokesman-Review, there was a strong indication that Hamilton was going to produce a greatest hits CD on a Spokane label.[27]

Film work[]

Hamilton had a co-starring role in the Richard Quine 1969 Western, A Talent for Loving which starred Richard Widmark, Topol, Geneviève Page.[28] In 1978 he co-starred in the sci-fi film Starcrash alongside Caroline Munro, Christopher Plummer, David Hasselhoff, Marjoe Gortner, Joe Spinell. Along with Joe Spinell he was the executive producer for the 1980 horror film Maniac which starred Spinell and Caroline Munro.[29] In 1981 he co-wrote the screenplay, executive produced and co-starred in his last film The Last Horror Film, which starred Caroline Munro and Joe Spinell.[30][31]

Current activities[]

Over the past 20-years Judd's creative efforts shifted to inventing and globally patenting a unique radiation shielding concrete/coating material called X-Rok. X-Rok has been successfully tested at Idaho National Labs to block all levels of radiation including gamma and neutron emissions with the purpose of repairing and containing the Hanford, Chernobyl, Fukushima nuclear radiation disasters, securing leaking radiated waste sites, replacing the carcinogenic lead in x-ray facilities, protecting data centers and communities from the excessive radiation produced by cellphone towers and electronic devices. Hamilton currently serves as the Chairman of Co-Operations, Inc., the Ceramic Cement Corporation, and the founder of E.F.F.O.R.T.S, a non-profit research organization.

Discography[]

Judd Hamilton singles
Act Title Cat Year Loc Notes #
Judd Hamilton And The Furys "I’m Not Around Anymore" / "Little Lost Angel" Julian Records J-101 1961 US [32]
Shane "On A Night Like This" / "'Til I Found You" Unity CP-2112 1962 US [33][34]
Judd Hamilton "Dream" / "Your Only Boy" Dolton Records No. 80 1963 US
Judd Hamilton "Flight 103" / "Initials On A Tree" Regency 111 1964 US
Judd Hamilton "Rules" / "Sunday Morning" American International A-151 1970 US
Judd Hamilton "Sunshine Man" / "Baltimore" American International A-163 1970 US [35][36]
Judd Hamilton "We Love You Mr Pompidou" / "We Love You Mr Pompidou" (instr) AMI Records 86031 C 1971 (France) [37]
Judd Hamilton "Mixed-Up Guy" / "Whatever Happened To July" United Artists UP 35247 1971 UK
Judd Hamilton "Rose By Any Other Name" / "Don't Be Afraid Of The World" United Artists UP 35311 1971 UK
Judd Hamilton "Long Road" / "C'Est La Vie" United Artists UP 35367 1972 UK [38]
Hamilton & Munro "Come Softly To Me" / "Sad Old Song" King Kong Records 52001 1979 France [39]
Judd And Miss Munro "You Got It" / "Where Does Love Begin" Aquarius AQ 3 1976 UK
Judd And Miss Munro "Rhythm Of The Rain" / "Sound Of The Sun" RCA Victor RCA 2753 1976 UK
Judd Hamilton And Caroline Munro "Love Songs" / "Sound Of The Sun" RCA Victor PB 5021 1977 UK [40]

Arrangement, production, etc.[]

Act Title Cat Year Role Notes #
The Avantis "Wax 'Em Down" / " Gypsy Surfer" Chancellor 1144 1963 Arranger for both sides
The Avantis "Surfin' Granny" / "Do The Surfin' Granny" Regency RP 107 1964 Co writer for side 1
Arranger for both sides
The Avantis "Phantom Surfer" / "Lucille" Regency 110 1964 Co-writer side 1
Arranger both sides
[41]
The T-Bones "Fare Thee Well" / "Let's Go Get Stoned" Liberty 55906 1966 Co-writer side 1 [42]
Spheres Festivals And Suns Spheres SP 001 1978 Co-writer on "Savitri" [43]
Jay Chattaway Bande Originale Du Film "Maniac" Milan A 120 151 1982 Executive producer [44]

Filmography[]

Film
Film Actor role Crew role Director Year Notes #
A Talent for Loving Jim Richard Quine 1969
Starcrash Elle Luigi Cozzi 1978
Racquet Performer David Winters 1979
Maniac Executive producer William Lustig 1980
The Last Horror Film Alan Cunningham Producer
Writer
David Winters 1982
FantastiCozzi Elle Felipe M. Guerra 2016 Documentary [45]
TV shows and specials
Title Episode Role Crew role Director Year Notes #
Where the Action Is Episode #2.99 Himself
Member of the T-Bones
1966 aired 28 January 1966
Hullabaloo - 31.01.1966 Himself
Member of the T-Bones
1966 aired 9 December 1966
Dick Clark's American Bandstand Episode #9.25 Himself
Member of the T-Bones
1966 aired 26 February 1966[46]
Cadet Rousselle Episode dated 7 June 1973 Himself 1973 (Talk show)
aired 7 June 1973
The 1980 Sci-Fi Awards Writer
Exec producer
Myrl A. Schreibman 1980 TV Special
23 November 1980[47]

References[]

  1. ^ Julian Records Website - Judd Hamilton & the Furys
  2. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 54 A Dream Fulfilled
  3. ^ 45Cat - Judd Hamilton And The Furys - Discography
  4. ^ Billboard Music Week, June 5, 1961 - Page 41 Limited Sales Potential, Popular
  5. ^ Julian Records Website - Judd Hamilton & the Furys
  6. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 54 A Dream Fulfilled
  7. ^ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 14
  8. ^ 45Cat - Shane (Unity) - Discography
  9. ^ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 64 Judd Hamilton Discography
  10. ^ Discogs - Judd Hamilton – Dream / Your Only Boy
  11. ^ Billboard, July 27, 1963 - Page 34 **** Four Star Singles, Popular
  12. ^ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 16
  13. ^ Songfacts - Album: No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) Released: 1966
  14. ^ 'https://www.discogs.com/label/81511-American-International-Records'Billboard, June 30, 1970 - Talent, From The Music Capitals of the World, DOMESTIC, LOS ANGELES
  15. ^ 45Cat - Judd Hamilton - Discography, USA
  16. ^ Billboard, June 13, 1970 - Page 8 AIR's Strong Track Showing
  17. ^ 45 Cat - Judd Hamilton - Discography
  18. ^ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 50
  19. ^ Billboard, June 6, 1964 - Page 30 Music As Written, Hollywood
  20. ^ Billboard, August 29, 1964 - Page 10 Talent, People and Places by Mike Gross
  21. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  22. ^ Redbone's Official Website - The origins of Redbone from 1960 to 1969
  23. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  24. ^ 45Cat - The Avantis (Los Angeles) - Discography
  25. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 160 THOSE HAMILTON BROTHERS
  26. ^ Songfacts - Album: No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) Released: 1966
  27. ^ The Sokesman-Review, Thursday, January 5, 1995 - Music Still Keeps Late Rock Star’s Memory Alive By Doug Clark
  28. ^ FilmAffinity - A Talent for Loving
  29. ^ The Gorehound's Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980s, By Scott Aaron Stine - Page 182 Maniac (1980)
  30. ^ InsidePulse.com, January 3, 2016 - Blu-ray Review: The Last Horror Film (aka Fanatic) - Joe Corey
  31. ^ TV Guide - The Last Horror Film, CAST & CREW
  32. ^ Julian Records Website - Judd Hamilton & the Furys
  33. ^ 45Cat - Shane (Unity) - Discography
  34. ^ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 64 Judd Hamilton Discography
  35. ^ 45Cat - Judd Hamilton - Discography, USA
  36. ^ Discogs - American International Records
  37. ^ Discogs - Judd Hamilton Discography, Singles & EP's
  38. ^ 45Cat - Judd Hamilton - Discography, UK
  39. ^ Discogs - Judd Hamilton Discography, Singles & EP's
  40. ^ 45Cat - Judd Hamilton - Discography, UK
  41. ^ Discogs - The Avantis
  42. ^ Discogs - The T-Bones – Fare Thee Well / Let's Go Get Stoned
  43. ^ Discogs - Spheres (2) – Festivals And Suns
  44. ^ Discogs - Jay Chattaway – Bande Originale Du Film "Maniac"
  45. ^ Imdb - Judd Hamilton (I), Filmography
  46. ^ Imdb - Judd Hamilton (II)
  47. ^ Imdb - Judd Hamilton (I), Filmography

External links[]

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