Dave « Baby » Cortez

David Cortez Clowney, known professionally as Dave "Baby" Cortez, was born on August 13, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan. He is an American musician, pianist, organist, composer, and singer primarily associated with early R&B and soul music. Encouraged by his father, who played the piano, Clowney began playing the organ at a young age and performed in local churches. Cortez's breakthrough came in 1958 when he released "You Give Me Heebie Jeebies" under the name Dave "Baby" Cortez. His most notable achievement was the release of "The Happy Organ" in 1959, which became the first pop/rock hit to reach Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with an organ as the central instrument. This success led to several album releases, including The Happy Organ and Dave "Baby" Cortez. Throughout the 1960s, he continued to release albums such as Rinky Dink, Organ Shout / Precious You, and Tweetie Pie. He also collaborated with various artists, including The Isley Brothers. In 1973, his last charted success was "Someone Has Taken Your Place". Cortez's career saw him work with multiple labels, including Clock Records, Roulette Records, and All Platinum Records. After a hiatus in the 1980s, he returned to music in 2011 with the album Dave "Baby" Cortez with Lonnie Young Blood and his Bloodhounds. Cortez passed away on May 31, 2022, at the age of 83.

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