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During his career which began in 1955, Eddie toured extensively performing in West Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. In addition to Bo Diddley and Orquesta Novel, he worked as a freelance violinist (nightclub, studio, symphonic, television and theatre) with various groups and artists including:

Charanga America*, Paul Anka, Eddy Arnold, Pearl Bailey*, Ray Barretto*, Orquesta Broadway*, Tony Bennett, David Benoit, George Benson, Les Brown*, the Vi Burnside Quintet, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Los Chavales De Espana*, Don Costa*, Kid Creole & the Coconuts*, Celia Cruz*, Sammy Davis Jr., “Duke” Ellington, Jose Fajardo*, the Fania All Stars*, Aretha Franklin, Steve Lawrence & Edie Gorme*, Isaac Hayes, Englebert Humperdinck, Tipica Ideal*, La India*, the Jackson Five, Tom Jones, the Wynton Kelly Trio, the Kennedy Center Orchestra, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Patti La Belle, La Lupe*, Hector Lavoe*, Pupi Legarreta*, Israel “Cachao” Lopez*, Lorin Maazel*, Henry Mancini*, Johnny Mathis, John Mauceri*, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Liza Minnelli, Melba Moore*, Luis “Perico” Ortiz*, the Osmond Brothers, Johnny Pacheco*, Lou Perez*, Ray Price, Charlie Pride*, Tito Puente*, Louie Ramirez*, Smokey Robinson*, the Richmond Symphony, Tito Rodriguez*, Diana Ross, Charanga 76*, Frank Sinatra, Frankie & the Spindles*, SOJA*, the Spinners, the Stylistics, the Supremes*, the Temptations, the Urban Philharmonic*, Ike & Tina Turner*, Dionne Warwick*, Barry White, Andy Williams*, Buster Williams*, Roger Williams, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder …

*Denotes recordings or telecasts  

Eddie composed the music for the 1997 Helen Hayes award winning musical TORN FROM THE HEADLINES and scored a scene for the Clint Eastwood movie IN THE LINE OF FIRE.  Throughout the 1970s he composed, arranged and produced hits for Marti, TR, Fania, Casablanca and Bullseye records, including LET’S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE (Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited), GET DOWN DO THE LATIN HUSTLE (Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited), DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO (Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited), LAST NIGHT CHANGED IT ALL (Esther Williams), which have been sampled by contemporary artists (such as the Avalanches, Shaggy, Jamiroquai, Tupac Shakur, Biz Markie, Grandmaster Flash …). 

Orquesta Novel recorded several Eddie Drennon tunes including:
WITH A TOUCH OF BRASS, SALSA BOOGIE,   
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE…   

At the dawn of the 21st century, Eddie Drennon compositions provided the foundation for the following songs:        
SINCE I LEFT YOU - by the Avalanches -   
contains a sample from LET’S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE 
FREAKY GIRL - by Shaggy -
contains a sample from GET DOWN DO THE LATIN HUSTLE

Three versions of DISCO JAM, composed by Eddie during his Casablanca years (1976-79), are currently (2009) enjoying a revival

Eddie Drennon (born Edward Allen Drennen in Newark, NJ)
Variants: Eddie Drennan, Eddie Drennen, Eddy Drennon
Edward Drennan and Edward Drennon

Eddie Drennon and BBS Unlimited

Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited (1975)

Orquesta Novel

Orquesta Novel (1970)

 

 

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