Jacksonville’s Bruce Channel becomes a one-hit wonder with ‘Hey Baby’

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Jacksonville native Bruce Channel had the No. 1 pop hit on this date in 1962 with a catchy tune called “Hey! Baby.” It topped the chart for three weeks and sold more than 1 million copies.

It was his one and early hit. His other songs never cracked the Top 40 leaving him as a one-hit wonder. 

Later, as a songwriter in Nashville, he wrote  hit songs for others.

 In the Spotlight

— 2018; Frankston native Tye Sheridan stars in “Friday’s Child.” 

— 2017: Ellen DeGeneres, who grew up in Atlanta, is on the “Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.” 

— 2016: David Sullivan, who grew up in Longview, has a starring role on “Flaked,” a comedy that ran two seasons on Netflix. 

— 2012: Irma P. Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, has a role “Wolf.”

— 2009: David Sullivan, who grew up in Longview, has a guest role on “Criminal Minds.”

— 2008: As a contestant on “American Idol,” Jason Castro, of Rowlett, appears on “Entertainment Tonight.”

— 2006: Lindale native Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene” peaks at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 

— 2005 Corsicana native Billy Joe Shaver appears in “The Wendell Baker Story” starring Luke Wilson.

— 2001: “A Class Act” opens on Broadway with Donna Bullock, a graduate of Tyler Junior College, as Lucy.

— 2000: Terrell native Jamie Foxx is a guest on the “Howard Stern Show.”

— 1995: Atlanta native Tracy Lawrence’s “Any Fool Can See” peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

— 1994: Mineola native Noble Willingham and Anna Nicole Smith, who grew up in Mexia appear in “The Hudsucker Proxy” starring Tim Robbins and Paul Newman.

— 1994: Darlene Cates, who lived her final years in Forney, has a guest role on “Picket Fences.”

— 1985: Linden native Don Henley’s “Driving with Your Eyes Closed” peaks at No. 9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

— 1974: Tyler native Sandy Duncan is a celebrity panelist on “Hollywood Squares.”

— 1973: Tyler native Richard Bradford has a guest role on “Mannix.”

— 1967: “From the Heart of Texas” by Kosse native Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys peaks at No. 32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. 

— 1962: Classical pianist Van Cliburn, who grew up in Kilgore, is a guest on “What’s My Line?”

— 1957: Honey Grove native Bill Erwin appears in an episode of “Wire Service.”

— 1944: Jacksonville native Al Dexter’s “Rosalita” hits No.1 on the Most Played Jukebox Records chart. 

— 1927: Gloria Swanson and Greenville native John Boles stars in the silent film “For the Love of Sunya.”