Bob Welch ~ Ebony Eyes 1977 Classic Rock Purrfection Version

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Bob came in to this world the son of Robert Welch, a noted Hollywood producer and screenwriter and his actress mother, Templeton Fox. Having developed an interest in music starting with the clarinet and then moving to guitar. He moved to France to study but dropped out and returned to California.

He joined the Seven Souls who campaigned for a spot with the Epic Records roster but lost out to Sly & The Family Stone. Not finding much success until 1971, when he was approached by Fleetwood Mac who had just lost Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. Christine McVie had just joined the band and Bob became the newest member.

Danny Kirwan and Welch experienced quite a bit of professional static, culminating with Kirwan throwing a hissy fit in the middle of a concert leaving his bandmates to pick up the slack. Kirwan was dismissed from the group leaving Christine and Bob to explore their creativity and expand the appeal of Fleetwood Mac.

Welch's contributions "Sentimental Lady" and "Hypnotized" became concert staples and put the band firmly in commercial territory, opening the way to the addition of Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham after he left the band in 1974.

1977 was his year with the smash hit LP "French Kiss" and the singles "Ebony Eyes", "Hot Love, Cold World" and a newly recorded version of "Sentimental Lady" powering it to platinum status. The follow up "Three Hearts" was a rock disco fusion attempt that resulted in the #19 showing of the single "Precious Love" in the summer of 1979.