American Singer and Songwriter. Freeman will best be remembered for his hit single "Do You Want to Dance" which climbed the pop charts in 1958 and endured long afterward in covers by the Beach Boys, the Ramones, Bette Midler and others. He was still a teenager when he wrote and recorded the song that became his signature, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard singles chart. He appeared on shows like 'American Bandstand' and 'The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show' and would tour with Fats Domino and Jackie Wilson. Freeman would also chart with "Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes" in 1958, and "C’mon and Swim" in 1964, which was co-written and produced by a young Sly Stone. Freeman later released a handful of songs, but none became hits. His "Do You Want to Dance" (also known as "Do You Wanna Dance" with and without the question mark) was recorded and interpreted by several artists. The Beach Boys reached No. 12 on the Billboard chart in 1965 with their up-tempo close-harmony version, John Lennon recorded a dreamy reggae style and the Ramones recorded a punk-rock version. Both the Mamas and the Papas and Midler slowed the song down, with Midler’s version reaching No. 17 on the Billboard chart in 1973. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of George Lucas’s rock ’n’ roll coming-of-age film 'American Graffiti' (1973). Freeman, who spent years performing at clubs in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas, died after suffering a heart attack.
American Singer and Songwriter. Freeman will best be remembered for his hit single "Do You Want to Dance" which climbed the pop charts in 1958 and endured long afterward in covers by the Beach Boys, the Ramones, Bette Midler and others. He was still a teenager when he wrote and recorded the song that became his signature, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard singles chart. He appeared on shows like 'American Bandstand' and 'The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show' and would tour with Fats Domino and Jackie Wilson. Freeman would also chart with "Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes" in 1958, and "C’mon and Swim" in 1964, which was co-written and produced by a young Sly Stone. Freeman later released a handful of songs, but none became hits. His "Do You Want to Dance" (also known as "Do You Wanna Dance" with and without the question mark) was recorded and interpreted by several artists. The Beach Boys reached No. 12 on the Billboard chart in 1965 with their up-tempo close-harmony version, John Lennon recorded a dreamy reggae style and the Ramones recorded a punk-rock version. Both the Mamas and the Papas and Midler slowed the song down, with Midler’s version reaching No. 17 on the Billboard chart in 1973. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of George Lucas’s rock ’n’ roll coming-of-age film 'American Graffiti' (1973). Freeman, who spent years performing at clubs in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas, died after suffering a heart attack.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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