Post by Rob Durkee on Jun 7, 2012 19:01:43 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (RTDP) 6/7/12 -- Bob Welch, the former singer-guitarist for Fleetwood Mac who's best remembered for his solo hits from 1977-79, died Thursday, June 7, 2012, at his home in Antioch. It's believed that he was 66. Nashville police reported that Welch's wife found his body at about 12:15 p.m. local time. Authorities went on to report that Welch died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He'd been suffering from health issues and a suicide note was found.
According to Wikipedia, Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. was born into an entertainment family on August 31, 1945 in Los Angeles. Some sources, including musicologists Ronnie Allen and Joel Whitburn, indicate he was born August 31, 1946. His dad, Robert Welch, Sr., was a successful movie producer who worked with the likes of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. His mother, Templeton, was a singer-actress who appeared in TV and movies from 1962 to 1979. She also worked with Orson Welles' Mercury Theater in Chicago.
Bob Welch Jr. worked with a variety of marginal bands in the late 60's and early 70's. His career took off in 1971, when he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac, which was still a young unknown band that had formed in England in 1967. Welch left Fleetwood Mac in late 1974 just before the group took off with hit albums like "Fleetwood Mac" and "Rumours." When Welch left Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks would join.
Welch's leaving the group was so he could work with a group called Paris but after that project met little success, Welch went solo. His "French Kiss" album would generate his biggest hit, the ballad "Sentimental Lady," a #4 hit on the Cash Box pop chart in late 1977-early 1978. Two more songs would come from "French Kiss" to become hits in 1978..."Ebony Eyes" (#12) and "Hot Love, Cold World" (#49). His last Top 40 hit was 1979's "Precious Love" (#17).
Sadly, Welch wasn't part of Fleetwood Mac's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. Welch was bitter over being snubbed. "I'm the one who brought the band to Los Angeles from England, which put them in the position of hooking up with Lindsey and Stevie," Welch told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1998.
"I saw the band through a whole period where they barely survived, literally. Mick Fleetwood dedicated a whole chapter of his biography to my era of the band and credited me with saving Fleetwood Mac. Now they want me out of the history of the group. It hurts."
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (RTDP) 6/7/12 -- Bob Welch, the former singer-guitarist for Fleetwood Mac who's best remembered for his solo hits from 1977-79, died Thursday, June 7, 2012, at his home in Antioch. It's believed that he was 66. Nashville police reported that Welch's wife found his body at about 12:15 p.m. local time. Authorities went on to report that Welch died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He'd been suffering from health issues and a suicide note was found.
According to Wikipedia, Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. was born into an entertainment family on August 31, 1945 in Los Angeles. Some sources, including musicologists Ronnie Allen and Joel Whitburn, indicate he was born August 31, 1946. His dad, Robert Welch, Sr., was a successful movie producer who worked with the likes of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. His mother, Templeton, was a singer-actress who appeared in TV and movies from 1962 to 1979. She also worked with Orson Welles' Mercury Theater in Chicago.
Bob Welch Jr. worked with a variety of marginal bands in the late 60's and early 70's. His career took off in 1971, when he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac, which was still a young unknown band that had formed in England in 1967. Welch left Fleetwood Mac in late 1974 just before the group took off with hit albums like "Fleetwood Mac" and "Rumours." When Welch left Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks would join.
Welch's leaving the group was so he could work with a group called Paris but after that project met little success, Welch went solo. His "French Kiss" album would generate his biggest hit, the ballad "Sentimental Lady," a #4 hit on the Cash Box pop chart in late 1977-early 1978. Two more songs would come from "French Kiss" to become hits in 1978..."Ebony Eyes" (#12) and "Hot Love, Cold World" (#49). His last Top 40 hit was 1979's "Precious Love" (#17).
Sadly, Welch wasn't part of Fleetwood Mac's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. Welch was bitter over being snubbed. "I'm the one who brought the band to Los Angeles from England, which put them in the position of hooking up with Lindsey and Stevie," Welch told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1998.
"I saw the band through a whole period where they barely survived, literally. Mick Fleetwood dedicated a whole chapter of his biography to my era of the band and credited me with saving Fleetwood Mac. Now they want me out of the history of the group. It hurts."
