Tommy Bruce And The Bruisers
Biography
Tommy Bruce was an odd part of the pre-Beatles British rock scene and still totally unknown in America, although he did have one big British hit when his debut single "Ain't Misbehavin'" got to number three in 1960. Bruce had an extremely low, hoarse voice that wasn't too dissimilar from growlers like Howlin' Wolf and Dr. John. Before getting too excited by the comparisons, it should be noted that Bruce wasn't nearly as powerful or nuanced a singer as either of them. He had a froggier timbre and far more given to hamming it up. Perhaps there was a little of Fats Waller in him as well; unfortunately, there was also a good amount of British music hall in most of his records, which veered toward pop novelty more than rock & roll.
Ex-boxer Bruce wasn't even a professional singer when he made the acquaintance of Barry Mason, who would later write hit songs like Tom Jones' "Delilah" and the Fortunes' "Here It Comes Again." He was, indeed, still working as a porter in the fruit and vegetable market of Covent Garden in London when Mason moved into the building in which he was living. Mason asked Bruce to a recording session, cut him doing Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'," and used an acetate to get Bruce a deal with Columbia UK.
Selected Discography
That's Rock'n'roll
2002
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