Johnny Cymbal

Johnny Cymbal (born John Hendry Blair; February 3, 1945 – March 16, 1993)^[1] was an American songwriter, singer and record producer who had numerous hit records, including his signature song, "Mr. Bass Man".

Johnny Cymbal
Birth name	John Hendry Blair
Also known as	Brother John, Derek
Born	(1945-02-03)February 3, 1945 Ochiltree, East Ayrshire, Scotland
Died	March 16, 1993(1993-03-16) (aged 48) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1960–1993
Labels	MGM Capitol Kapp DCP Chelsea Columbia Amaret

Overview

During a 33-year career, Cymbal made an impact on popular music worldwide as a songwriter, singer, performer and record producer. During those years, in addition to his rock and roll anthem, "Mr. Bass Man", he was responsible for hit records including "Teenage Heaven", "Cinnamon" (Under the pseudonym "Derek"), "Mary in the Morning", "Rock Me Baby" and "I'm Drinking Canada Dry".

In 1963, with the hit "Mr. Bass Man", Cymbal was recognized as a teen star. (The "Bass Man" part was sung uncredited by Ronnie Bright (1938–2015),^[2] who sang with the Cadillacs, the Valentines and, for 40 years, phase two of the Coasters.)^[3] In 1973, Who bassist John Entwistle covered the song on his third solo album, Rigor Mortis Sets In.

In New York state, Cymbal wrote and produced records for a number of artists, including Gene Pitney^[2] and Terri Gibbs (who had a big country crossover hit with "Somebody's Knockin'"). In early 1969, as the New York recording scene slowed dramatically, Cymbal and his writing/producing partner George Tobin moved their base to California. Initially, Austin Roberts, who was a singer as well as a writer, stayed in New York, but soon after they had settled into the West Coast, he joined them in Los Angeles. With the entrepreneurial Tobin running the business and Cymbal and Roberts creating the music, they were making what Roberts describes as "the record of the day" — they would write a song during the day, then go into the studio to record it that night — with either Cymbal and/or Roberts singing it. The next day, according to Roberts, "Tobin would go sell it to three different labels." That may be an exaggeration, but they certainly made a lot of music recording under names such as "Taurus" on Tower and "Brother John" on A&M.^[4]

Death

Cymbal died of a heart attack on March 16, 1993, at the age of 48.^[5]

Discography

Albums

• Mr. Bass Man (1963)
• Cymbal and Clinger (with Peggy Clinger) (1972)

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		AUS [6]	CAN [7]	NZ [8]	UK [9]	US [10]	US AC [11]
1960	"It'll Be Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Water Was Red"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963	"Mr. Bass Man"	13	31	—	24	16	—
	"Bachelor Man"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Teenage Heaven"	80	—	—	—	58	19
	"Dum Dum Dee Dum"	83	—	—	—	77	—
	"Hurdy Gurdy Man"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964	"There Goes a Bad Girl"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Mitsu"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Surfin' at Tia Juana" (Japan-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Pack of Lies (Ashita-Ga-Arusa)" (Japan-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Little Miss Lonely" (as 'Johnny (Mr. Bassman) Cymbal')	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Cheat, Cheat"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965	"Go V.W. Go"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Summertime's Here at Last"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1966	"Jessica"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1967	"Carol Cartoon" (with Paul Drefuss, as 'The Eye-Full Tower')	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"It Looks Like Love"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Marriage of Charlotte Brown"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1968	"Cinnamon" (as 'Derek')	10	1[A]	10	—	11	—
	"Angela Jones" (as 'Milk')	—	—	—	—	—	—
1969	"Snowball" (as 'American Machine')	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Back Door Man" (as 'Derek')	—	—	—	—	59	—
	"Mr. Bass Man" (re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Big River"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Bless You" (as 'Taurus')	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Save All Your Lovin' (Hold It for Me)"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Inside Out - Outside In" (as 'Derek')	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970	"Polyanna" (as 'Brother John')	84	—	—	—	—	—
1971	"The Mookie Mookie Man" (with Peggy Clinger)	—	—	—	—	—	—
1972	"God Bless You Rock n' Roll" (with Peggy Clinger)	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973	"The Dying River" (with Peggy Clinger)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Mr. Bass Man" (2nd re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Cinnamon" (re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Boulder, Colorado" (promo-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	"Cinnamon" (2nd re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	"A Pack of Lies (Ashita Ga Arusa)" (Japan-only re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released

Notes

1. "Cinnamon" also peaked at number 3 on the Canadian RPM chart.^[12]