Curley Hamner

Curley Hamner (March 16, 1919—January 1982) was an American rhythm and blues and jazz drummer, vocalist, dancer, and songwriter.

A long-time drummer for Lionel Hampton's Orchestra, he is acknowledged for his composition of "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop", which was covered by many big names in jazz.

Hamner was involved in 34 recording sessions from 1946 to 1960.

Curley Hamner was born William J. Hamner in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 16, 1919.

After working as a dancer in his youth, Hamner began his professional music career in 1945 as a drummer in Lionel Hampton's Orchestra. He was with Hampton until 1958 and was involved in several recordings. In January 1946, Hamner and Hampton co-wrote "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop". Recorded on Decca, it featured Herbie Fields on alto saxophone with vocals by Hampton. The song went to number one on the R&B Juke Box chart for sixteen non-consecutive weeks and reached number nine on the national pop charts. It has been covered by many musicians including Louis Prima, Wynonie Harris, Tex Beneke + Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Jacques Hélian. Dizzy Gillespie and Tina Dixon also recorded versions of this song—"Bob A Lee Ba" and "E-Bop-O-Lee-Bop", respectively. Brad Silberling used it in his 1998 movie City of Angels starring Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, and Andre Braugher.

In November 1947, Hamner played drums on Hampton's album New Movements In Be-Bop, sharing the stage with Jackie Kelso (alto saxophone, clarinet), Charles Mingus (bass), Billy Mackel (guitar), Dodo Marmarosa (piano), Morris Lane (tenor saxophone), and Benny Bailey (trumpet).

Also in 1947, Hamner worked with Earl Hines & His Orchestra for the recording of "No Good Woman Blues" with violinist Eddie South, alto saxophonist Bobby Plater, bassist Charles Mingus, and vocals by trumpeter Duke Garrette.

In the early 1950s, Hamner toured Europe with Lionel Hampton. The performance was recorded on the album Hamp In Paris (1953-1955) (Barclay Records).

"Gone Again", which Hamner co-wrote with Curtis Reginald Lewis and Hampton, was recorded in 1959 on Mercury Records by Sil Austin with music arrangement by Belford Hendricks. Another of his compositions, "Today I Sing the Blues" (co-written with Lewis and Hampton), was recorded by Aretha Franklin. It reached number 10 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1960.

Hamner left Hampton's band in 1958.

In 1959, Hamner toured Europe with the saxophonist Eric Dixon. Accompanying The Cooper Brothers (trombonist Buster Cooper and bassist Steve Cooper) in France, he recorded the jazz/funk/soul album Twistin' And Turnin' (Barclay Records) with vocalist Frankie Tucker, pianist Lloyd Mayers, and saxophonist Eric Dixon.

Around this time, he also appeared as a dancer in Paris on "Paris mes amours" by French dancer/singer Josephine Baker.

In 1959, Hamner recorded several titles in New York ("Just Carry On", "Air Raid", etc.) as a studio musician with Al Casey, saxophonist King Curtis, and pianist Joe "Earl" Knight.

He also worked with the R&B singer Billy Hambric ("I Gotta Find That Girl") and with Milt Buckner ("Bernie's Tune").

In 1962, Hamner released the album Dance Session Number One (Ascot Records). The 12-track album included "Caravan Twist" (written by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol); "Dry Marterie With A Twist" (written by Ralph Marterie); "Drum Boogie" (written by Gene Krupa and Roy Eldridge); and "Night Train" (written by Jimmy Forrest, Lewis Simpkins, and Oscar Washington).

Hamner died in New York, New York, in January 1982, at 62.