Bellamy Brothers

The Bellamy Brothers are a country music duo composed of two brothers – Howard and David Bellamy – who enjoyed an amazing run of success starting in the mid-1970s. They are the most successful duo in country music history. Their work paved the way for many other country duos who followed, including The Judds, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry and Big & Rich.

History

The Bellamy Brothers started their musical career at the end of the 1960s. In 1968, they had their first official gig, playing a free show with their father at the Rattlesnake Roundup in San Antonio, Florida. They kept playing throughout the South, often with already recognized musicians, such as Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd and others. A couple of months later, the brothers moved up north, discovering the potentials of rock/country music in Atlanta.

During the long road gigs, David discovered that he had a talent for songwriting. It was his lyrics that eventually made it possible for the duo to become an international act. This breakout came eventually in form of the hit "Spiders and Snakes," which sold more than 3 million units and brought the Bellamy Brothers to L.A. music scene.

The duo was very well-known at the time; however, they were not yet famous internationally. That all changed with the crossover single "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, the song becoming instant smash worldwide. It remained on charts long enough to build an appreciable international fan base, which exists to this date. For example, in Germany the song stayed a No. 1 hit for two months.

Their music gradually became more and more country-like. By the late '70s, another hit followed: "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)". Just like "Let Your Love Flow" put them on pop charts a few years earlier, this song did just the same with the country charts.

During the early- to mid-1980s, the Bellamy Brothers were among the most dominant duos in country music. In that span, they scored eight No. 1 singles on the Billboard magazine country singles chart, including "Sugar Daddy" and "Dancin' Cowboys" (1980); "Do You Love as Good as You Look" (1981); "For All the Wrong Reasons" and "Redneck Girl" (1982); "When I'm Away From You" (1983); "I Need More of You" (1985); and "Kids of the Baby Boom" (1987). They also shared a No. 1 duet with the Forester Sisters with 1986's "Too Much is Not Enough."

Other important hits in the Bellamys' discography were "You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie" (1979); "Lovers Live Longer" (1980); "You're My Favorite Star" (1981); "Reggae Cowboy" (1982); "Strong Weakness" and "I Love Her Mind" (1983); "Forget About Me" and "World's Greatest Lover" (1984); "Old Hippie" and "Lie to You For Your Love" (1985); "Feelin' the Feelin'" (1986); "Crazy From the Heart" (1987); "Santa Fe" and "Rebels Without a Clue" (1988); "Big Love" and "You'll Never Be Sorry" (1989); "I Could Be Persuaded" (1990); and "Cowboy Beat" (1992).

The Bellamy Brothers hold the record in both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association Awards (CMA) for most duo nominations. Throughout their career, they have released at least two dozen hit songs outside the US that were never released in the US themselves.

Discography

Albums

The Reason for the Season (2002)
Redneck Girls Forever (2000)
Live at Gilley's (1999)
Lonely Planet (1999)
Reggae Cowboys (1998)
Over the Line (1997)
One Way Love (1996)
Forever (1996)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (1996)
Tropical Christmas (1996)
Shine Them Buckles (1996)
Dancin' (1996)
Take Me Home (1995)
Sons of Beaches (1995)
Native American (1995)
Nobody's Perfect (1994)
Rip off the Knob (1993)
Beggars & Heroes (1992)
Rollin' Thunder (1991)
Neon Cowboy (1991)
Crazy from the Heart (1990)
Reality Check (1990)
Country Rap (1987)
Howard & David (1986)
Restless (1984)
Strong Weakness (1983)
When We Were Boys (1982)
You Could Get Crazy (1980)
Sons of the Sun (1980)
The Two and Only (1979)
Beautiful Friends (1978)
Plain & Fancy (1977)
Let Your Love Flow Brothers (1976)
The Bellamy Brothers (1976)

Box set/compilations

Angels & Outlaws, Vol. 1 (2005)
The 25 Year Collection: Around The World (2004)
Let Your Love Flow: 20 Greatest Hits (2001)
The 25 Year Collection, Vol. 2 (2001)
The 25 Year Collection, Vol. 1 (2001)
The Best of the Best (1999)
At Their Best (1998)
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1995)
Latest & The Greatest (1992)
Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (1989)
The Best of the Bellamy Brothers (1985)
Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (1982)
Greatest Hits (1982)

Singles

I Could Be Persuaded (1990)
Rebels Without a Clue (1990)
Rebels Without a Clue ^* (1998)

Video

Latest & The Greatest ^* (1996)

External links

Country music groups | Duos | American musical groups | Florida musical groups