Bobby Freeman

Bobby Freeman (born June 13, 1940) is an African-American soul singer who recorded for the Autumn Records label in San Francisco, California. He is best known for his 1958 hit "Do You Want To Dance?", covered later (as "Do You Wanna Dance") by Del Shannon, the Beach Boys and the Ramones, and his 1964 Top Ten hit "C'mon and Swim". The latter record was written and produced by twenty-year-old Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. Freeman began his recording career at age 14 with the Romancers who recorded briefly on the Dootone label. At 17, he scored a hit with "Do You Want To Dance?" and appeared on the pop charts with various follow-ups through 1961. In 1964, he was back in the Top Ten with the dance-craze hit "C'mon and Swim". The craze had cooled by the time he released his follow-up "S-W-I-M", but he continued to tour widely over the next few years. Mainly supporting himself as a singer in strip clubs by the late Sixties, he released another single in 1974 on Touch Records, but it met with little commercial success. He has performed at the Bay Area Music ("Bammy") Awards in recent years. Notable Singles 1958 Do You Want To Dance? (#5 Pop) 1958 Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes 1958 Need Your Love 1959 Mary Ann Thomas 1959 Ebb Tide 1960 (I Do the) Shimmy Shimmy 1961 The Mess Around" 1964 C'mon and Swim 1964 S-W-I-M 1974 Everything's Love Albums 1958 Do You Wanna Dance (Jubilee) 1959 Get in the Swim (Josie) 1960 Lovable Style of Bobby Freeman (King) 1964 C'mon and Swim (Autumn)