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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFULLER, Bobby(b 22 October 1943, Baytown TX; d 18 July 1966, Hollywood CA) Singer, songwriter. He formed the Bobby Fuller Four in El Paso with his brother Randy, DeWayne Quirico and Jim Reese; played local dates for three years, moved to Los Angeles and got a recording contract. Surviving evidence discloses the influence of Buddy Holly with an admix of Tex-Mex and country rock; the biggest hit 'I Fought The Law' '66 (top ten) was in fact written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets. Fuller's death was mysterious, involving a beating and petrol burns, officially suicide from ingesting petrol (gasoline) but he had gone out to buy acid from a hooker with a jealous boyfriend; theories included a bad acid trip covered up, or loan sharks angered at the band's not making enough money. Randy kept the group going briefly; they soon split. Fuller tunes 'Another Sad And Lonely Night', 'Saturday Night', 'Little Annie Lou' suggest that much talent was lost. The Clash exuberantly covered 'I Fought The Law' '80; further legacy was in the music of Los Lobos and the Blasters. Compilations on Rhino and Ace; four-CD The Mustang Years was on Del-Fi mid-'97. |