Bob Heatlie (born Robert Heatlie in 1946) is a Scottish songwriter.
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Background
He was born in Craigmillar, Edinburgh. His instrument repertoire includes saxophone, drums, and piano.
Hit songs
His most successful and prominent songs are "Japanese Boy" and "Merry Christmas Everyone", both substantial 1980s pop chart hits across Europe and beyond. "Japanese Boy" (released by the German label 'Hansa') was a novelty hit recorded by Aneka, a fellow Scot. It sold in excess of 4.5 million copies.
Heatlie wrote arguably his finest pop songs in "Cry Just A Little Bit" and "Breaking Up My Heart" for Shakin' Stevens in 1985. The song was another hit (helped in part by a music video). Coincidentally, it was also the song that Stevens performed for his record-setting 50th appearance on the BBC's Top of the Pops weekly UK music chart television programme on 7 March that year.
"Merry Christmas Everyone" was first recorded by Shakin' Stevens, reaching the top of the charts in many European territories around Christmas 1985. "Merry Christmas Everyone" has since become an annual mainstay of radio airplay in and around the December holidays.
Current status
In later years, Bob concentrated on musical compositions for children's television, including The Trap Door "Percy The Park Keeper" "Kipper The Dog" "Anthony Ant and "Sheep" He also composed the music for the documentary series "Worlds Apart"
Songwriting credits
Solo
- Aneka - "Japanese Boy" (Single, 08 Aug 1981, UK No. 1)
- Cliff Richard - "Locked Inside Your Prison" (Album track on "Silver", Oct 1983, UK No. 7)
- Shakin' Stevens - "Cry Just A Little Bit" (Single, 05 Nov 1983, UK No. 3)
- Shakin' Stevens - "Breaking Up My Heart" (Single, 02 Mar 1985, UK No. 14)
- Shakin' Stevens - "Merry Christmas Everyone" (Single, 07 Dec 1985, UK No. 1)
- Ann Turner - "Too Hot To Handle" (Runner-up in the UK's "Song For Europe" Eurovision Song Contest selection TV programme, 1987)
With Gordon Campbell
- Anya - "Moscow Nights" (Single, 1985)
- Shakin' Stevens - "Radio" (Single, 10 Oct 1992, UK No. 37)
For TV
- Fun House theme tune.
- Wheel of Fortune theme tune
External links
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