Chan Romero

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Not to be confused with Chon Romero.
Chan Romero
Background information
Birth nameRobert Lee Romero
Born(1941-07-07)July 7, 1941
Billings, Montana, U.S.
DiedApril 2024(2024-04-00) (aged 82)
GenresRock and roll
OccupationsSinger, musician, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1959–1966
LabelsDel-Fi Records

Robert Lee "Chan" Romero (July 7, 1941 – April 2024) was an American rock and roll performer, best known for his 1959 song "Hippy Hippy Shake".[1]

Early life

Romero was born in

migrant farm workers
. The nickname "Chan" was bestowed on Romero by his grandfather. Since Romero often ran around without footwear, the nickname, from a Spanish phrase meaning "little boy with pig's feet" seemed appropriate.

Career

Romero said Elvis Presley's 1956 performance of "

A&R representative from Specialty Records: Sonny Bono
. Bono was particularly taken with a song called "My Little Ruby" and asked Romero to polish the song and to return in a few weeks. But since Romero needed to return to school in Montana, he never returned to Specialty.

Romero's career skyrocketed with the release of "Hippy Hippy Shake" in July 1959. Released first in North America and later in Australia and the UK, it soon came to the attention of

Star Club in Hamburg during his early years with The Beatles. It also did well enough in Australia for Romero to do a tour there with Jerry Lee Lewis. The 1964 version by The Swinging Blue Jeans hit number one across Europe.[2]

Romero became the first Latino to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.[3]

Personal life

Romero's work bore a resemblance to that of

Pacoima, California
.

Romero's first visit to Palm Springs, California in 1964 inspired him to make the area his home. In later life, he still resided in the area and divided his time between Palm Springs and Billings.[3] Romero's daughter stated in 2023 that Chan no longer received royalties for his music.[3]

Romero died in April 2024, at the age of 82.[4][5]

Discography

Albums

Title Note
Hip Shakin' Chan Romero [6]
Bought with a Price

Singles

A-side B-side Year Note
"Hippy Hippy Shake" "If I Had a Way" 1959 [6]
"I Don't Care Now" "My Little Ruby" 1959
"Funny Things" "Funny Things" 1965
"Humpy Bumpy" "Humpy Bumpy" 1966

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-313-33210-4
    . Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  2. ^ "Chan Romero Discography". Discogs.com. July 7, 1941. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Still shakin': Billings native Chan Romero reminisces on rock 'n' roll career". Q2 News (KTVQ). March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Williams, Richard (April 22, 2024). "Chan Romero 1941–2024". The Blue Moment. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Billings native Chan Romero, who wrote 'The Hippy Hippy Shake', dies at 82". KTVQ. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Chan Romero". Discogs. Retrieved May 14, 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chan_Romero&oldid=1220837404"