Hudson Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Hudson Brothers are an American
music group formed in Portland, Oregon
in the 1970s and consisting of Bill Hudson, Brett Hudson
and Mark Hudson (birth name Salerno). Their popular songs included "So You Are a Star" (1974; Billboard
#21), "Rendezvous" (1975; Billboard #26), "Lonely School Year" (1975; Billboard #57), and "Help Wanted" (1976; Billboard #70).
automobile after the winning of a "battle of the bands"-type contest. In spring 1967 they released "When I'm Gone" (SCE-12190) on Scepter Records
, following that in August 1967 with "Mr. Kirby" (SCE-12199) and then "Show Me The Way To Love" (SCE-12207) in autumn 1967. By October 1968, The New Yorkers had switched to Jerry Dennon's Pacific Northwest label Jerden Records
and issued "Adrianne" (#906), following that up with "Land of Ur" (#908) in March 1969. Later in 1969 The New Yorkers also recorded "Lonely" (#7318) for Warner Bros. Records
and "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City" (#32569) for Decca Records
.
On Decca Records they changed their name to Everyday Hudson in early 1970, releasing "Love Is The Word" (#32634).
For the release in spring 1971 of "Love Nobody" on Lionel Records (L-3211), their name was shortened to Hudson. This name was also used in 1972 after switching to the newly re-activated Playboy Records
, with the release of "Leavin' It's Over" (originally "Leave And It's Over", the song was mislabeled by Playboy, and it has never been corrected) (P-50001), Billboard Bubbling Under Chart #110. In 1973 Hudson signed with Elton John
's Rocket Records
and released "If You Really Need Me" (MCA-40141), which was recorded in France
and produced by Bernie Taupin
. It was followed by "Sunday Driver" (MCA-40317).
Their first record release as The Hudson Brothers came in September 1974 with their chart record "So You Are A Star" on Casablanca Records
(NES 0108; Billboard #21), followed by "Coochie Choochie Coo" (NES 816) in 1975, Billboard Bubbling Under Chart #108. They returned to Rocket Records for more 45 RPM
charted songs in 1975 with producer Bernie Taupin, later switching to Arista Records
in 1976. Yet another name change back to Hudson came in 1980 on Elektra Records
, and then to The Hudsons in 1983 on Columbia Records
.
starting July 31, 1974 to August 28, 1974, followed by The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show on CBS Saturday mornings, from September 7, 1974 to August 30, 1975, in a half-hour format. Video Service Corp. released the complete Razzle Dazzle series on DVD on June 17, 2008.
They starred in Bonkers!
, a half-hour syndicated comedy show in 1978, produced in Britain by ATV
and distributed by ITC
. The three brothers also starred in Hysterical, a horror-comedy film released in 1983.
from 1976 to 1980 and is the father of actor Oliver Hudson
and actress Kate Hudson
. He then later married Cindy Williams
. Mark Hudson was successful as a writer/producer for acts such as Aerosmith
and Ringo Starr
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music group formed in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in the 1970s and consisting of Bill Hudson, Brett Hudson
Brett Hudson
Brett Hudson musician, singer/songwriter, possibly best known as the youngest of the 1970s group the Hudson Brothers, is now a TV producer and writer living in Malibu, California. Hudson formed the production company Frozen Pictures with Burt Kearns...
and Mark Hudson (birth name Salerno). Their popular songs included "So You Are a Star" (1974; Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
#21), "Rendezvous" (1975; Billboard #26), "Lonely School Year" (1975; Billboard #57), and "Help Wanted" (1976; Billboard #70).
History
Their first musical group, The New Yorkers, was named after the ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
automobile after the winning of a "battle of the bands"-type contest. In spring 1967 they released "When I'm Gone" (SCE-12190) on Scepter Records
Scepter Records
Scepter Records is a record company founded in 1959 by Florence Greenberg. She had just sold Tiara Records with The Shirelles for $4000 to Decca Records. When The Shirelles didn't produce any hits for Decca, they were given back to Greenberg, who promptly signed them. By 1961 Greenberg launched a...
, following that in August 1967 with "Mr. Kirby" (SCE-12199) and then "Show Me The Way To Love" (SCE-12207) in autumn 1967. By October 1968, The New Yorkers had switched to Jerry Dennon's Pacific Northwest label Jerden Records
Jerden Records
Jerden Records was an independent record label which operated from May 1960 through April 1971.It was based in Seattle and majority owned by Jerry Dennon and Bonnie Guitar, both of whom had been involved previously with Dolton Records and the careers of The Fleetwoods on that label. A split with...
and issued "Adrianne" (#906), following that up with "Land of Ur" (#908) in March 1969. Later in 1969 The New Yorkers also recorded "Lonely" (#7318) for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City" (#32569) for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
.
On Decca Records they changed their name to Everyday Hudson in early 1970, releasing "Love Is The Word" (#32634).
For the release in spring 1971 of "Love Nobody" on Lionel Records (L-3211), their name was shortened to Hudson. This name was also used in 1972 after switching to the newly re-activated Playboy Records
Playboy Records
Playboy Records was a record label in Los Angeles, California, and a unit of Playboy Enterprises. Artists recording for the label included Barbi Benton, Blue Ash, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, Brenda Patterson, Jeanne French , Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, Ivory, Wynn Stewart, Mickey Gilley...
, with the release of "Leavin' It's Over" (originally "Leave And It's Over", the song was mislabeled by Playboy, and it has never been corrected) (P-50001), Billboard Bubbling Under Chart #110. In 1973 Hudson signed with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Rocket Records
Rocket Records
The Rocket Record Company was a record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. The name is from the hit, "Rocket Man"...
and released "If You Really Need Me" (MCA-40141), which was recorded in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and produced by Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
. It was followed by "Sunday Driver" (MCA-40317).
Their first record release as The Hudson Brothers came in September 1974 with their chart record "So You Are A Star" on Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
(NES 0108; Billboard #21), followed by "Coochie Choochie Coo" (NES 816) in 1975, Billboard Bubbling Under Chart #108. They returned to Rocket Records for more 45 RPM
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
charted songs in 1975 with producer Bernie Taupin, later switching to Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
in 1976. Yet another name change back to Hudson came in 1980 on Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, and then to The Hudsons in 1983 on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Albums
As The Hudson Brothers, the group issued:- "Hudson" (Playboy Records,, 1973/4)
- "Totally Out of Control" (Rocket Records, Billboard #179, 1974)
- "Hollywood Situation" (Casablanca Records, Billboard #176, 1974)
- "Ba-Fa" (Rocket Records, Billboard #165, 1975)
- "The Truth About Us" (Arista Records, 1978)
- "TV's Hudson Brothers" (First American Records, 1978) (consisting of the Jerden-era singles)
- "Damn Those Kids" (Elektra Records, 1980) was released under the name Hudson.
Television and movies
They starred in The Hudson Brothers Show, a TV variety hour Wednesday nights on CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
starting July 31, 1974 to August 28, 1974, followed by The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show on CBS Saturday mornings, from September 7, 1974 to August 30, 1975, in a half-hour format. Video Service Corp. released the complete Razzle Dazzle series on DVD on June 17, 2008.
They starred in Bonkers!
Bonkers!
Bonkers! was an ATV variety show from 1979, distributed by ITC Entertainment.Starring Bob Monkhouse and the Hudson Brothers - Bill, Brett and Mark - the show featured sketches, guest stars and musical numbers...
, a half-hour syndicated comedy show in 1978, produced in Britain by ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
and distributed by ITC
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
. The three brothers also starred in Hysterical, a horror-comedy film released in 1983.
Personal lives
Bill Hudson was married to Goldie HawnGoldie Hawn
Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
from 1976 to 1980 and is the father of actor Oliver Hudson
Oliver Hudson
Oliver Rutledge Hudson is an American actor. He is the son of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, and brother of Kate Hudson...
and actress Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
. He then later married Cindy Williams
Cindy Williams
Cynthia Jane "Cindy" Williams is an American actress best known for starring in the television situation-comedy series Laverne & Shirley, in the role of "Shirley Feeney", and for her role as Laurie Henderson in the classic film American Graffiti.-Early life:Williams was born in Van Nuys,...
. Mark Hudson was successful as a writer/producer for acts such as Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
and Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
.
External links
- Hudson Brothers at TV Party!
- Hudson Brothers at Mrs. Neugasts's Fan Worship Page