Bobby Elliott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Elliott
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Elliott performing with The Hollies in 2017.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Hartley Elliott |
| Born | 8 December 1941 Burnley, Lancashire, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
Robert Hartley Elliott (born December 8, 1941) is an English rock drummer. He is most famous for being the drummer for the band The Hollies. Many people think he is one of the best drummers in pop and rock music.
Early Life
Bobby Elliott found out about jazz music when he was about 10 or 11 years old. He really wanted to be a drummer! He went to Nelson Grammar School. Bobby taught himself how to play the drums. He used things around his house like tins and made his own drumsticks. He learned by copying famous jazz drummers like Chico Hamilton and Gene Krupa. At first, he played jazz music, but then he started playing rock and roll.
Career
Shane Fenton and the Fentones
Bobby Elliott was one of the first members of a band called Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes. They started in 1959. In late 1960, they sent a demo tape to a radio show called Saturday Club. They changed their name to Shane Fenton and the Fentones. Sadly, the singer Johnny Theakston passed away before they heard back.
The band was offered an audition, so their roadie, Bernard Jewry, became the new singer. He used the stage name "Shane Fenton." In 1961, the band got a record deal. Their song "I'm a Moody Guy" became a hit, reaching number 22 in the UK. After that, their next few songs didn't do as well, and the band broke up in April 1963.
The Hollies
After Shane Fenton and the Fentones, Bobby Elliott played in another band called Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins. The guitarist from that band, Tony Hicks, left to join The Hollies. Soon after, The Hollies' drummer, Don Rathbone, left the band. Bobby Elliott then joined The Hollies as their new drummer.
The Hollies quickly became very popular. Their songs like "Here I Go Again", "Look Through Any Window", and "Just One Look" became hits in Britain. They had many more famous songs later, including "Bus Stop", "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", and "The Air That I Breathe". Even today, Bobby Elliott and Tony Hicks still tour and play with The Hollies.
In September 1973, while The Hollies were working on their album, Paul McCartney asked Bobby to be the drummer for his band, Wings. But Bobby said no because he wanted to stay with The Hollies. He said his "heart was with the Hollies."
The Hollies were honored in 2010 when they were put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bobby Elliott and Tony Hicks could not go to the ceremony. They were busy playing a concert with The Hollies in London at the London Palladium.
Personal Life
Many other famous drummers have said that Bobby Elliott influenced their playing. These drummers include Gilson Lavis, Ric Lee, Cozy Powell, and Ian Paice.
Bobby Elliott's hair started to get thin when he was young, around the time The Hollies became famous. So, he began wearing different hats on stage to cover his head. This idea later inspired other musicians to wear hats on stage, helping to make hats a cool part of rock and roll fashion. By the 1970s, Bobby was completely bald. He then started wearing a long, dark wig on stage. You can see this wig on the cover of The Hollies' 1974 album, Hollies.
See also
In Spanish: Bobby Elliott para niños
