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Dave Clowney


Composer, singer, organist and pianist David Cortez Clowney, better known as Dave Baby Cortez, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on 13 August 1938. He attended Northwestern High School in Detroit. His father was a pianist. Mr Clowney learned piano but later switched to organ. In the mid fifties David Clowney sang in various doo wop groups; he then became musical director for Little Anthony And The Imperials. Among his composing credits is the song "Your line was busy".

His recording of The Happy Organ was almost an accident; he was supposed to sing on it, but demurred. The studio had an organ covered in dust covers, which was usually used for gospel music recordings, and he decided to play that. Happy Organ's guitar solo is by session musician Wild Jimmy Spurill. His follow up hit "Rinky Dink" became well known in the UK due to being used as the theme tune for Wrestling. He quickly became disenchanted with the music industry and became highly reclusive. In 2009 he was persuaded to play on a further album. He continued to live a reclusive life until he died from unknown causes in New York City on 31 May 2022. His death was not publicly reported until 2025.

Image: NAMM

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