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Biff Rose

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Biff Rose
Birth namePaul Conrad Rose III
Born(1937-10-15)October 15, 1937
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 2023(2023-07-25) (aged 85)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active
  • 1964 – 2023
Labels

Paul Conrad Rose III (October 15, 1937 – July 25, 2023), better known as Biff Rose, was an American stand-up comedian and singer-songwriter.

Biography

Paul Conrad Rose III[1] was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 15, 1937.[2][3] He started out in the Greenwich Village folk scene as a banjo playing singer/comedian. His popularity there prompted a 1964 NY Times profile on the young singer.[4] Rose then moved to Hollywood where he worked alongside George Carlin and John Davidson as an actor and writer on The Kraft Summer Music Hall.[5] Rose also worked on The Mort Sahl Show as an improvisational actor and writer. It was there that he met Paul Williams, which resulted in their short lived songwriting partnership. Together they wrote the songs ‘Fill Your Heart’, ‘I'll Walk Away’, ‘Someday’ and ‘When Love is Far Away’, the latter of which was featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians.[6][7]

Following the release of 1968's The Thorn in Mrs. Rose's Side, Rose made over 10 appearances on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show from 1968 to 1970.[8][9] Rose performed on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,[10] American Bandstand,[11] The David Frost Show,[12]The Merv Griffin Show and Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark. He emceed the Atlantic City Pop Festival of 1969[13] and the Atlanta Pop Festival of 1970.[14]

Biff Rose died from liver cancer at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 25, 2023. He was 85.[15][16]

Music

Rose's first release was 1968's The Thorn in Mrs. Rose's Side, which contained the song "Buzz the Fuzz".

The song "Fill Your Heart" is Rose's best known composition. Co-written by Paul Williams, the song was covered Tiny Tim on the B-side of his 1968 hit single "Tiptoe through the Tulips". David Bowie also made a recording of the song.

Rose's songs been recorded by John Denver , Vetiver and Pat Boone.[17] Cat Stevens counts Rose as an influence.[18]

A young Bruce Springsteen opened up for Biff Rose at Max's Kansas City in February 1973.[19] In attendance that evening was David Bowie who had gone specifically to see Biff.[20][21]

Influence on David Bowie

Most famously, Rose's song ‘Fill Your Heart’ was recorded by David Bowie on his seminal album Hunky Dory (1971).

Yes Keyboard player Rick Wakeman worked as a session musician on Hunky Dory and commented that Rose's version had "obviously influenced David" in the recording—-so much so that on the hand-written back cover sleeve for Hunky Dory, Bowie wrote “Biff” in parenthesis, under the song's title.[22] Bowie also covered Rose's song, ‘Buzz the Fuzz’, in live concerts recorded from the early 70's.[23]

Wakeman noted, “'Bowie played me some tracks by Biff Rose too and I remember going out and getting a Biff Rose album myself as he had obviously influenced David and I wanted to involve myself in David's influences in order to give my very best for the Hunky Dory music.” [24]

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Racism Allegations

In October 2017, Indy Week pointed out that Rose's website contained "blatantly racist and anti-Semitic material." In an interview with Nate Waggoner, Rose, " expresses some views that are definitely not my own." In a published emailed rebuttal, Rose offered racist ideas about Islam as a defense against being anti-Semitic.[25] He continued to post racist and anti-Semitic language and ideas, including drawings that utilized visual ethnic stereotypes and graphic depictions of homophobia and misogyny.[26][27]

Full-length releases

  • The Thorn in Mrs. Rose's Side (1968, Tetragrammaton, re-released on Buddha)
  • Children of Light (1969, Tetragrammaton, re-released on Buddha)
  • Biff Rose [some copies titled Ride On] (1970, Buddha)
  • Half Live at the Bitter End (1971, Buddah)[28]
  • Uncle Jesus, Aunty Christ (1972, United Artists)
  • Hamburger Blues (Biff Rose and Wall Matthews)[29] (1973 Sweet Jane LTD.)
  • Roast Beef (1978, Pacific Arts)
  • Thee Messiah Album/Live at Gatsby's (1979, Pacific Arts)

References

  1. ^ Lindsay, Sally (July 17, 1971). "Youth Beat". Pottsville Republican. Page 27. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Paul Conrad Rose, III United States Public Records, 1970-2009. FamilySearch. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ O'Leary, Chris (2015). Rebel Rebel: All the Songs of David Bowie From '64 to '76. John Hunt Publishing. ISBN 1780997132.
  4. ^ "Folk Comedian Picks Audience As Target of Ethnic‐Cult Barbs; Biff Rose, Banjoist, Performs Topical‐Satirical Ditties at the Gaslight Cafe". The New York Times. November 14, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "Seven Dirty Words: The Life and Crimes of George Carlin". Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Interview: Paul Williams". Film Comment. February 27, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Crazy Rich Asians (2018) - Soundtracks - IMDb, retrieved August 15, 2023
  8. ^ "Columns: April 1969". Robert Christgau. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  9. ^ "The Official Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson web site". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2005.
  10. ^ "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour – Episode Schedule". Smothersbrothers.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  11. ^ TV.com. "American Bandstand – Season 13, Episode 21: Joe South / Biff Rose / Rhetta Hughes". TV.com. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  12. ^ "The David Frost Show" Episode #2.43 (TV Episode 1969) - IMDb, retrieved August 15, 2023
  13. ^ "BR's Classic Rock Photos – Atlantic City Pop Festival". E-rockworld.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "August 2000 the Psychedelic News Music Ezine". Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2005.
  15. ^ "Biff Rose". Legacy. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Paul "Biff" Rose ~ American comedian / singer-songwriter passed away at the age of 85 at his home in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday July 25th". Biff Rose on Facebook. July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "Tracks on Departure - Pat Boone (1969) | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Cat Stevens". Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Biff Rose / Bruce Springsteen". Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen: The History of an Unlikely Friendship". The 22nd Row. July 30, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "David Bowie's Animated First Reaction To Bruce Springsteen (a top story)::David Bowie News ::antiMusic.com". www.antimusic.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Rick Wakeman: On 'Piano Portraits,' David Bowie, Yes in the Rock Hall of Fame and More (Q&A)". Archived from the original on January 22, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  23. ^ "Buzz The Fuzz | The Bowie Bible". www.bowiebible.com. April 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Rick Wakeman: On 'Piano Portraits,' David Bowie, Yes in the Rock Hall of Fame and More (Q&A) - Rock Cellar Magazine". rockcellarmagazine.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "An Interview with Biff Rose, Truly Weird Part of Music History". The Tusk. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  26. ^ Hussey, Allison (October 5, 2017). "Heading to Biff Rose Tonight? You Might Want to Check His Website". Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  27. ^ Waggoner, Nate (August 1, 2014). "An Interview with Biff Rose, Truly Weird Part of Music History". Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  28. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  29. ^ "HAMBURGER BLUES, by Biff Rose". Biff Rose. Retrieved August 15, 2023.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biff_Rose&oldid=1178115238"