Fred Hughes
Encyclopedia
Fred Hughes is an R&B singer. He was born in Arkansas
, but moved to Compton, California
. He first recorded while a student at Compton High School as a member of The Cymbals in 1962, and worked as a member of a band, the Creators. Hughes recorded for Vee-Jay Records
in the 1960s before its demise, scoring a hit in 1965 with the singles "Oo Wee Baby, I Love You" (a Top 20 R&B hit and #23 Pop) and "You Can't Take it Away" (another Top 20 R&B hit, #96 pop). Hughes signed with Brunswick Records
in 1969 but scored no further pop hits, although two of his releases for the label made the R&B charts, "Baby Boy" at #25, and "I Understand" at #45. According to this website "http://www.londonlee.com/2006/07/oo-wee.html" he still lives in Compton but has not been active in music since the 1970s.
According to the website "http://freddiehughes.blogspot.com," Fred Hughes is often confused with Freddie Hughes, an Oakland, California
recording artist, and Castlemont High School graduate. The 1988 edition of Joel Whitburn's "Top R&B Singles" Billboard-based book lists releases by both artists together as if they were one artist, and AllMusic Guide's brief biography of Fred Hughes conflates the two artists, but it is worth noting that later editions of Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" do separate the two artists as of the 1994 edition. Freddie Hughes recorded "Send My Baby Back", which was also a top 20 R&B hit. On the strength of this hit, Wand Records
released an album of the same name. Freddie Hughes recorded with several Oakland and Berkeley
groups including the Melkeets, the Four Rivers, Music City Soul Brothers, the Casanova Two and he shared a producer, Lonnie Hewitt, with the Ballads. He recorded "Send My Baby Back" on Lonnie Hewitt's Wee Records, and when the record became popular, it was leased to Wand. He also recorded "I Just Found Out" with Janus records. Freddie Hughes is still active in the music business and has a website: "http://www.freddiehughes.com/"
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, but moved to Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. He first recorded while a student at Compton High School as a member of The Cymbals in 1962, and worked as a member of a band, the Creators. Hughes recorded for Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
in the 1960s before its demise, scoring a hit in 1965 with the singles "Oo Wee Baby, I Love You" (a Top 20 R&B hit and #23 Pop) and "You Can't Take it Away" (another Top 20 R&B hit, #96 pop). Hughes signed with Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
in 1969 but scored no further pop hits, although two of his releases for the label made the R&B charts, "Baby Boy" at #25, and "I Understand" at #45. According to this website "http://www.londonlee.com/2006/07/oo-wee.html" he still lives in Compton but has not been active in music since the 1970s.
According to the website "http://freddiehughes.blogspot.com," Fred Hughes is often confused with Freddie Hughes, an Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
recording artist, and Castlemont High School graduate. The 1988 edition of Joel Whitburn's "Top R&B Singles" Billboard-based book lists releases by both artists together as if they were one artist, and AllMusic Guide's brief biography of Fred Hughes conflates the two artists, but it is worth noting that later editions of Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" do separate the two artists as of the 1994 edition. Freddie Hughes recorded "Send My Baby Back", which was also a top 20 R&B hit. On the strength of this hit, Wand Records
Wand Records
Wand Records was started by Florence Greenberg in 1961 as a subsidiary of Scepter Records. In 1976 Florence Greenberg decided to retire from the business and sold her record labels to Springboard International. When Springboard went bankrupt, Gusto Records acquired the catalog.Artists on Wand...
released an album of the same name. Freddie Hughes recorded with several Oakland and Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
groups including the Melkeets, the Four Rivers, Music City Soul Brothers, the Casanova Two and he shared a producer, Lonnie Hewitt, with the Ballads. He recorded "Send My Baby Back" on Lonnie Hewitt's Wee Records, and when the record became popular, it was leased to Wand. He also recorded "I Just Found Out" with Janus records. Freddie Hughes is still active in the music business and has a website: "http://www.freddiehughes.com/"