Bobby Helms

Though scarcely recognized by the general public, Bobby Helms commands radio playlists each December. His 1957 single “Jingle Bell Rock” first entered the charts that year and returned four times over the next five years, cementing its status as an enduring holiday staple. Earlier, before the seasonal association narrowed his image, Helms had already posted two chart-topping country successes.

Helms entered the world on August 15, 1933, in Bloomington, Indiana. He made his initial appearances on his father Fred’s Monroe County Jamboree, accompanied on guitar by his brother Freddie. Billed as the Helms Brothers, the pair quickly became a local favorite. Helms later recorded the single “Tennessee Rock and Roll,” yet soon returned to Bloomington to perform on the Hayloft Frolic television program. There he received advice to travel to Nashville for background vocals on an Ernest Tubb session. Tubb then steered him toward Decca Records, which signed the singer in 1956. His first release, “Fraulein,” initially drew little notice in January 1957 but climbed to number one on the country chart by April and reached the pop Top 40 that July. In October he delivered another chart-topper, “My Special Angel,” which held the country summit for four weeks and crossed over to number seven on the pop side.

Helms next recorded “Jingle Bell Rock,” issued by Decca just two days before Christmas 1957; the track still climbed to number six on the pop chart. The 1958 country releases “Just a Little Lonesome” and “Jacqueline” both reached the Top Ten, while a reissue of “Jingle Bell Rock” reentered the pop Top 40. In 1960 “Lonely River Rhine” peaked inside the country Top 20, though fresh material thereafter fared poorly. Decca continued to re-release the holiday hit annually through 1962, each time with weaker results.

Throughout the 1960s Helms maintained a steady touring schedule and cut two albums for Kapp in 1966: I’m the Man and Sorry My Name Isn’t Fred, the latter title referencing either his brother or his father. In 1968 he issued All New Just for You on the Little Darlin’ label. Between 1967 and 1968 several singles charted modestly, among them “He Thought He’d Die Laughing” and “So Long.” His final hit arrived in 1970 with the Certron release “Mary Goes ’Round,” although he returned to the studio as late as 1983 to record Pop-a-Billy for MCA.