CARL BELEW BIOGRAPHY


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Carl Belew Biography
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Source: http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/carl_belew.htm

Born Carl Robert Belew, 21 April 1931, Salina, Oklahoma
Died 31 October 1990, Salina, Oklahoma

Carl Belew is one of a long list of performers who moved on from making small rockabilly records to country music fame as both a singer and songwriter. His rockers include Cool Gator Shoes and Folding Money on Four Star for whom he made his debut in 1955 after being brought to the company's attention by Marvin Rainwater.

His big breakthrough came when Johnnie And Jack took Belew's Stop The World (And Let Me Off) into the charts (# 7 country in 1958). It's a great song which was covered in blistering style by Waylon Jennings for an early RCA single. Lonely Street was also a turning point for him, the ballad becoming a Top 10 hit for Andy Williams, and covered in fine style by our Shaker Gene Vincent. Gene seemed to like the ink that flowed from Belew's pen, cutting a cover of Am I That Easy To Forget? which was a # 9 country hit for Carl himself and a pop hit for Debbie Reynolds in 1960. Eight years later it hit in the UK for Engelbert Humperdinck. Other notable cover versions came from Jim Reeves and Don Gibson.

Strangely for such a great writer, he scored two hits with Crystal Chandeliers and Hello Out There, neither of which he penned. Other songwriting success came with Eddy Arnold's US country number 1, What's He Doing In My World? (1965).

I've never heard That's When I See the Blues in Your Pretty Brown Eyes, but what a great title.

He died from cancer in November 1990. Two years after his death he won the Music City News award for Best Song with Look At Us. It's a beautiful ballad (If they want to know what true love should be, they'll just look at us), which was a massive hit for Vince Gill. Discography: http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/b/Belew/belew.htm There are no Carl Belew CD's in print at this time of writing.

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Review about Carl Belew

The man who brought me in USA | Reviewer: Gantcho Motchev | 11/8/09

I was born in Bulgaria.Since 1965 like a teenager I started to listen I dont know why country music.It was very difficult because of "metal curtain".But God's wayes are unpredictable.Now I have no explanation how the LP records with country music that we ordered were coming in Bulgaria.Carl Belew was closest to me with the similar way to write the familly name first, later his warm,natural,human voice moved me to come in USA and to listen everything my heart's wanted.I saw personally many of the greatest country singers here in USA but my regret is that I came late to see him personally.Now I collected all of his LP records and I have every song he ever sang.God bless him and I am grateful for what he did.

my father | Reviewer: Bobby Belew | 7/26/09

I'm the son of Carl Belew and I just found this site and I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind words concerning my father. Mom passed away about a year and a half ago so its just me and my family now. I have most of his recording that I converted to CD from a group of records a policeman let me borrow (we couldn't keep a copy of any of his records because he kept giving them away), so I have a nice collection now. God bless each of you and once again, thank you.

Bobby Belew

Louisiana Hayride Ballinger, Texas 1957 | Reviewer: sid holmes | 7/20/09

We (Cavaliers) had the pleasure of opening for Johnny Horton & Carl Belew at the Texas Theater in 1957. The crowd was nearly 900 mostly teens so we held our own doing Elvis numbers. Carl sang "Stop The World" with his 2 piece band (up-right bass & guitar) and don't remember what Horton sang? Fun times for sure.

Tahlequah, OK | Reviewer: John Blackard | 1/11/09

Carl used to play at the rodeo ground in Tahlequah, OK when I was a student at Northeastern in 1957-58.
His shows were probably the most crowded of all the singers who played there.

Most people know "Crystal Chandelier" by Charlie Pride and they have never heard of Carl Belew. but the true country fan knows of his achievements.

I so enjoyed reading the input from Carl's family members here. Family is special to me and I want to thank the members of his family for sharing with us. Especially his granddaughter Crissy, "whistle, fart and ride in a cart". They don't make them like him anymore!

Carl Belew | Reviewer: Paul | 12/23/07

My mother had the good fortune of meeting Carl Belew way back in the 60's. I grew up listening to his music. I own the cd that was recently released, but it does not have all the tunes my mother used to play. I would give anything to have "Masquerade Party" and "Speak to Me". My mother passed away two weeks ago, and am in a nastaliac mood to hear them again.
Paul

Memories | Reviewer: Joan K. Williams | 12/17/07

I Remember when I was a child back in the 1960's hearing a song on the radio by Carl Belew called "Crystal Chandaliers". I so liked that song, but hadn't heard it for years and years. Finally, after years and years of hunting for a Carl Belew CD with that song on it, I was surfing the internet about 2 months ago and what do you know? I found a Carl Belew CD (brand new, I might add) on Amazon.com!!I bought it and it's like that pearl that you search & search for and you treasure it when you find it!! Still love the song!! Carl Belew difintely did not get the credit he so richly deserves. God bless!! Joan K. Williams

my grandpa | Reviewer: crissy belew | 8/29/07

carl belew is my grandpa. i was 9 years old at the time of his death. i dont remember very many things about him. just random bits of memeory, like the way he walked and the silly songs he would make up on the spur of the moment. he always told me my sister and my brother that he could do 3 things at once; whistle, fart and ride in a cart. lol. i cant remember his voice but my dad took a lot of his records cleaned them up and burned them to cds for the family. so when i want to hear his voice i just put his cd in and there he is again.anyway, thank you to everyone and anyone who enjoyed his music. he was truely a wonderful man husband father grandpa and singer songwriter. thanks again on behalf of his family....crissy belew

Fond Memories | Reviewer: Gary Wallace | 6/6/07

Carl Belew was married to my Aunt Kate (actually my mothers first cousin) When I was a kid he would stop by my Mom and Dads house and play and sing for us. Some items to add to his bio, he made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, was a regular on the Louisiana Hayride, and made over twelve albums. Carl could belt out a honkey tonk rockabilly song, bring you to tears with a tender love ballad or reduce you to peaceful reverence with an old gospel hymn. He truly was one of the most musically talented people I have ever known...GARY

Belew on Blue | Reviewer: carl mann | 6/3/07

carl was a close friend of mine. also my favorite great songwriter of all time , I also recorded songs of carls including> I can't forget you> born to be bad>Stop the world &others.I toured with carl quite a bit in early sixties he was a great agreat guy .my guitar player Eddie Bush also worked with carl a lot. Thanks carl for all your beautiful songs. We all miss you. carl mann

Review the Artist Carl Belew