Introduction
Lenny Welch (born Leon Welch, May 31, 1940) is an American MOR/popsinger.
Early years
He was born in New York and raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey by his godparents, Eva and Robert Richardson. He attended Asbury Park High School. When he was 16 years old, Welch participated in the initial rehearsal of The Mar-Keys in Asbury Park, his first time to sing for another person.
Career
In 1960, Welch signed with Cadence Records. His biggest hit, a cover version of the big band standard "Since I Fell for You," reached number 4 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, selling a million copies. His other hits included "Ebb Tide" in 1964, which was featured in the film Sweet Bird of Youth; "You Don't Know Me," and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do". He also recorded the first vocal version of "A Taste of Honey" in 1962 and performed the theme to the 1967 CBS TV series Coronet Blue.
Later years
After Welch's recording career ended, he resumed his education, attending night school after driving a cab during the day. He first achieved a high school equivalency degree, then graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a bachelor's degree. He also began singing for commercials, first for Subaru and later for products that included Coca-Cola, M&M, and Mini-Oreos.
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Lenny Welch among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
From 1990-1991, Welch joined The Royal All Stars (Doo Wop All Stars), first of the "supergroups" to be formed bringing together singers from different groups to perform. This group consisted of Welch, Vito Balsamo from Vito and the Salutations, Artie Loria from The Earls, Randy Silverman from The Impalas and Eugene Pitt from the Jive Five. They became a mainstay in the "doo wop" circuit and toured relentlessly in the following years.
Discography
Studio albums
- Since I Fell for You (1963) (US No. 73)
- Two Different Worlds (1965)
- Rags to Riches (1966)
- Lenny (1967)
- It's All About Love (2005)
Compilation albums
- Anthology (1958-1966) (1996)
Singles
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) |
Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | "My One Sincere" |
— | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1959 | "The Blessing Of Love" |
— | — | — | |
| 1960 | "You Don’t Know Me" |
45 | — | 28 | Since I Fell For You |
| "Darlin'" |
— | — | — | ||
| "Darlin'" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1961 | "Changa Rock" |
— | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1962 | "It's Just Not That Easy" |
— | — | — | Since I Fell For You |
| "A Taste Of Honey" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1963 | "Since I Fell For You" |
4 | 3 | — | |
| 1964 | "Ebb Tide" |
25 | 6 | 7 | |
| "If You See My Love" |
92 | — | 43 | Non-album tracks | |
| 1965 | "I'm Dreaming Again" |
— | — | — | Two Different Worlds |
| "Darling Take Me Back" |
72 | 23 | — | ||
| "Two Different Worlds" |
61 | 6 | — | ||
| "Run To My Loving Arms" |
96 | — | — | ||
| 1966 | "Rags to Riches" |
102 | — | — | Rags To Riches |
| "What Now My Love" |
— | — | — | ||
| "Just One Smile" |
— | — | — | ||
| "If You Love Me, Really Love Me" |
— | — | — | Lenny! | |
| 1967 | "I'm Over You" |
— | — | — | |
| "Since I Fell For You" |
134 | — | — | Since I Fell For You | |
| "The Right To Cry" |
128 | — | — | Lenny! | |
| "Love Doesn't Live Here" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1968 | "Darling Stay With Me" |
112 | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| "Tennessee Waltz" |
— | — | — | ||
| "Halfway To Your Arms" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" |
34 | 8 | 27 | |
| "To Be Loved/Glory of Love" |
110 | — | — | ||
| "Such A Night" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "A Sunday Kind Of Love" |
96 | 21 | — | |
| 1973 | "Goodnight My Love" |
— | — | — | |
| "Since I Don't Have You" |
— | 25 | 92 | ||
| 1974 | "Eyewitness News" |
— | — | 71 | |
| "A Hundred Pounds Of Pain" |
— | — | — | ||
| "When There's No Such Thing As Love (It's Over)" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "Six Million Dollar Woman" |
— | — | — | |