# Buzz Clifford

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{{Short description|American musician (1941–2018)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name             = Buzz Clifford
| honorific_suffix =
| image            =
| image_upright    =
| image_size       =
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt              =
| caption          =
| native_name      =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name       = Reese Francis Clifford III
| alias            =
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1941|10|08}}
| birth_place      = [Berwyn, Illinois](/source/Berwyn%2C_Illinois), U.S.
| origin           =
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2018|01|26|1941|10|08}}
| death_place      =
| genre            = Pop
| occupation       = Singer, songwriter
| instrument       =
| years_active     = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) -->
| label            = Bow Records
| past_member_of  = [Keith Barbour](/source/Keith_Barbour), [Petula Clark](/source/Petula_Clark), [Clyde McPhatter](/source/Clyde_McPhatter)
| website          = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
| module           =
| module2          =
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}}
'''Reese Francis Clifford III''' (October 8, 1941 – January 26, 2018), known professionally as '''Buzz Clifford''', was an American pop singer and songwriter. His biggest success came with his recording of the [novelty song](/source/novelty_song) "[Baby Sittin' Boogie](/source/Baby_Sittin'_Boogie)" (1961), which peaked at No. 6 on the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100).

==Career==
Clifford was born in [Berwyn](/source/Berwyn%2C_Illinois), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), United States.<ref name="Larkin60">{{cite book|title=[The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)|editor=[Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer))|publisher=[Virgin Books](/source/Virgin_Books)|date=1997|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0149-X|page=118}}</ref> He played guitar as a child and won several talent competitions as a teenager.<ref name="Larkin60"/> He signed to Bow Records at age 15, releasing a few [singles](/source/single_(music)) but finding no success. After signing with [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records), he released the single "Hello Mr. Moonlight", which did not [chart](/source/record_chart).<ref name="Larkin60"/> The follow-up, "[Baby Sittin' Boogie](/source/Baby_Sittin'_Boogie)"/"Driftwood" (though "Driftwood" was technically the B-side, the record tends to be regarded as a double-A-side), became a [crossover](/source/Crossover_(music)) [hit](/source/hit_record) in the US in 1961,<ref name="Larkin60"/> peaking at No. 6 on the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100), No. 27 R&B, and No. 28 Country. The [record](/source/gramophone_record) went on to sell over one million copies, and as a result of its success, Columbia tried to groom Clifford as a [heartthrob](/source/sex_symbol) pop singer. He appeared on TV with [Perry Como](/source/Perry_Como) and [Merv Griffin](/source/Merv_Griffin) and on ''[American Bandstand](/source/American_Bandstand)'', and toured the United Kingdom with [Freddy Cannon](/source/Freddy_Cannon) and [Dion](/source/Dion_DiMucci).<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p16541|pure_url=yes}} Biography], [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)</ref> Clifford's fame was short-lived, however; further singles went nowhere (a remake of Kay Kyser's "Three Little Fishies" reached No. 102) and Clifford soon found himself without a recording contract.<ref name="Larkin60"/>

After serving in the [National Guard](/source/National_Guard_of_the_United_States), Clifford moved to Los Angeles, California, and found work as a songwriter, writing tunes sung by [Keith Barbour](/source/Keith_Barbour), [Petula Clark](/source/Petula_Clark), [Clyde McPhatter](/source/Clyde_McPhatter), [Lou Rawls](/source/Lou_Rawls), [Leon Russell](/source/Leon_Russell), [Freddie King](/source/Freddie_King), and [Kris Kristofferson](/source/Kris_Kristofferson). Later in the 1960s, he was involved with a band called [Carp](/source/Carp_(band)) (including actor [Gary Busey](/source/Gary_Busey) and songwriter [Daniel Moore](/source/Daniel_Moore_(musician))), who released one album on [Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) in 1969. After a stint as one third of the group Hamilton Streetcar (with [John Boylan](/source/John_Boylan_(record_producer)) of "[Appletree Theatre](/source/Appletree_Theatre)" fame, and original group member Ralph Plummer—the group was originally named on behalf of former member John Burge, aka Ian Hamilton) which in 1969 recorded a self-titled album for Dot Records (Dot DLP25939), he also did recording sessions in [Tulsa](/source/Tulsa%2C_Oklahoma), Oklahoma, with former [Beach Boy](/source/Beach_Boys) [David Marks](/source/David_Marks_(musician)), but these were never issued.

Marks, Clifford, and Moore reunited in the 1990s and released an album called ''Work Tapes''; Marks and Clifford continued to tour together along with Clifford's two sons until 1997. After recording in [Denmark](/source/Denmark), another LP, ''Norse Horse'', was issued.

In 1999, [Beck](/source/Beck) [sampled](/source/sampling_(music)) an early Clifford tune, "I See, I Am", in the single "Milk and Honey" for his ''[Midnite Vultures](/source/Midnite_Vultures)'' album.

In 2003, the 28-track CD ''More Than Just Babysittin': Complete Recordings 1958–1967'' was released. The songs are digitally remastered, and some striking differences are apparent, including a fade-out ending on "Driftwood".

In 2009, the rap duo [Method Man & Redman](/source/Method_Man_%26_Redman) released the track "Four Minutes to Lock Down" (feat. [Raekwon](/source/Raekwon) & [Ghostface Killah](/source/Ghostface_Killah)), which contained a sample of the song "Echo Park", written by Clifford, as recorded by [Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge](/source/Johnny_Maestro_%26_the_Brooklyn_Bridge).

In 2011, Clifford reformed the band he had started with his two sons, Reese and John, along with Guido Bryant on guitar, Jon Greathouse on keyboards, and Zach Mathews on harmonica, and recorded and released a new CD, ''Bright Lights Shine,'' now available at [CD Baby](/source/CD_Baby), [iTunes](/source/iTunes) and [amazon.com](/source/amazon.com).

==Death==
Clifford died on January 26, 2018, at the age of 76, from complications of influenza.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2018/01/passings-buzz-clifford-1941-2018.html|title=Passings: Buzz Clifford (1941–2018)|website=Vintagevinylnews.com|accessdate=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004503/http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2018/01/passings-buzz-clifford-1941-2018.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="5"|Peak chart<br />positions
!rowspan="2"|Record Label
!rowspan="2"|[B-side](/source/A-side_and_B-side)
!rowspan="2"|Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
!align=centre| [US](/source/Billboard_Hot_100)
!align=centre| [Country](/source/Hot_Country_Songs)
!align=centre| [R&B](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs)
!align=centre| [Can](/source/Canada_Singles)
!align=centre| [UK](/source/UK_Singles_Chart)
|-
| 1957
|align=left| "14 Karet Fool"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="2"| Bow Records
| "Golly Gosh Oh Gee"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
| 1958
|align=left| "Pididdle (The Car with One Light)"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "For Always"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1960
|align=left| "Blue Lagoon"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="6"| [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records)
| "Hello, Mr. Moonlight"
|rowspan="2"| ''Baby Sittin' with Buzz Clifford''
|-
|align=left| "[Baby Sittin' Boogie](/source/Baby_Sittin'_Boogie)"
| 6
| 28
| 27
| 2
| 17
| "Driftwood"
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1961
|align=left| "[Three Little Fishes](/source/Three_Little_Fishies)"
| 102
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Simply Because"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|align=left| "I'll Never Forget"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "The Awakening"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|align=left| "Moving Day"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Loneliness"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1962
|align=left| "Magic Circle"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Forever"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|align=left| "More Dead Than Alive"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="2"| [Roulette Records](/source/Roulette_Records)
| "No One Loves Me Like You Do"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
| 1963
|align=left| "My Girl"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "[Pretend](/source/Pretend_(1952_song))"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
| 1966
|align=left| "Until Then"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="1"| [RCA Victor](/source/RCA_Records)
| "(It's All Right) Let Her Go"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1967
|align=left| "Swing in My Back Yard"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="1"| [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records)
| "Bored to Tears"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|align=left| "Just Can't Wait" <small>(as The Full Treatment)</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="1"| [A&M Records](/source/A%26M_Records)
| "On My Way"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1970
|align=left| "(Baby I Could Be) So Good at Loving You"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="2"| [Dot Records](/source/Dot_Records)
| "Children Are Crying Aloud"
|rowspan="2"| ''See Your Way Clear''
|-
|align=left| "Procter and Gunther"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "I Am the River"
|-
|}

===Albums===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
|-
!Year
!Album
!Record label
|- 
| 1961
|align=left| ''Baby Sittin' with Buzz Clifford''
|rowspan="1"| [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records)
|-
| 1969
|align=left| ''See Your Way Clear''
|rowspan="1"| [Dot Records](/source/Dot_Records)
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs artist|Buzz Clifford}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000939558}}
* {{Discogs artist|Hamilton Streetcar}} Entry for ''Hamilton Streetcar''
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0001578401}} Entry for ''Hamilton Streetcar''

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clifford, Buzz}}
Category:American pop singers
Category:American comedy musicians
Category:1941 births
Category:2018 deaths
Category:People from Berwyn, Illinois
Category:Musicians from Illinois
Category:RCA Victor artists
Category:Deaths from influenza

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Buzz Clifford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Clifford) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Clifford?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.