Saturday, December 7 – The Bellamy Brothers
Live in concert at The Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven.
One night only. Showtime at 7 p.m.
Enjoy The Bellamy Brothers’ classics and holiday tunes.
VIP Seating: $50 per person. General Admission: $35
Learn more or get tickets online here.
Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they’ve ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself—music that is now celebrating 30 years of success.
The road that started on the pop music charts in the ‘70’s, took a winding turn into country music in the ‘80’s, paving the way for duos to come, such as Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich, and previously—The Judds. But before the road forked into country, the musical odyssey of brothers Bellamy started creatively smoldering in their home state of Florida, before exploding nationally amidst the ’70’s pop music culture of L.A.
The brothers first official gig was in 1968, playing a free show with their father at the Rattlesnake Roundup in San Antonio, Florida. They honed their early skills playing black clubs throughout the south, and singing backup for artists such as Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, and Little Anthony & The Imperials. Within a few months, the brothers moved north, immersing themselves and their rock/country sound in the Atlanta market, where the Allman Brothers were the emerging kings of the music world.
With the dawning of the Age of Aquarius on the horizon, and America embroiled in a smoke haze of drugs, civil unrest and an unpopular war, The Bellamy’s music picked-up the hard driving edge that bespoke the times. Songwriting had become David Bellamy’s drug of choice during the long road gigs he and Howard were regularly pulling bodies and equipment to and from. It was his songwriting that was posed to soon provide the duo a national breakout.
The break came in the form of the hit, “Spiders & Snakes,” written by David and recorded by Jim Stafford. The song became a smash, eventually selling more than three million units worldwide. It became the catapult that rocketed the brothers onto the L.A. music scene. Howard and David fell into the musical circle of the greats of the day: Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and Van Morrison, as well as West Coast based country rockers like Poco and the Byrds.
It was a creative shoe that fit.
The Bellamys officially lifted off the launch pad in 1976 when their single, “Let Your Love Flow,” became an instant smash in both the U.S. and Europe. The love was indeed flowing as The Bellamys jammed for audiences at their sold-out concerts and shared stages with the likes of Loggins & Messina, the Doobie Brothers, and the Beach Boys, with their patented blend of rock/country music.
Their style and their songwriting was moving steadily more towards their musical roots. By the late ‘70’s The Bellamys were emerging on the country charts with another bona fide smash. “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me),” originally scrawled on a dinner napkin by David, rocketed them to the top of the country charts the way “Let Your Love Flow,” had done in the pop market just a few years earlier. It proved to be the first of a string of fourteen #1 singles in the U.S. alone.
Success followed success: “Dancing Cowboys,” “Sugar Daddy,” “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie,” “Lovers Live Longer,” “Do You Love As Good As You Look,” “Redneck Girl,” “For All The Wrong Reasons,” “I Love Her Mind,” “I Need More Of You,” “Old Hippie,” “Too Much Is Not Enough,” “Kids Of The Baby Boom,” “Reggae Cowboy” and “Crazy From The Heart,”…all have lined the corridors of the Bellamy’s musical history and their walls with platinum and gold.
On the infrequent off days from the road, Howard and David head the bus back to their 150-acre family ranch in Darby, Florida just north of Tampa. A working ranch, the spread consists of Purebred Charlois cattle and quarter horses. Amid a land lush with fruit trees, ancient oaks and crepe myrtles, three generations of the Bellamy family, headed by David and Howard’s mother, Frances, populate the homes clustered in the family compound.
David and Howard’s latest effort has been the corroboration with thirty or more guest artists from all genres of music recording their vocals on over twenty of the Bellamy’s greatest hits plus three new selections. The release of “Angels & Outlaws – Volume One” (Curb/Bellamy Brothers Records) features such songs and artists as “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie” with Alan Jackson; “Old Hippie” with Montgomery Gentry; and “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body” with none other than Ms. Dolly Parton. Cuts from Volume One have charted here as well as in Europe. (As reported, “The Bellamy Brothers Country Music Duo makes history by scoring the Top 3 Slots on Europe’s Hotdisc Chart.”) Willie Nelson, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and many more also contributed their talents to this CD proving these hits from the past still resonate today. Once again, The Bellamy’s “Let Their Hits Flow.” Stay tuned for Volume II and another 30 years.
Don’t miss The Bellamy Brothers on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm.
Live in concert for one night only at The Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven.
Enjoy the classics and holiday tunes performed by The Bellamy Brothers.
VIP Seating: $50 per person. General Admission: $35
Learn more or get tickets online here.
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