Bertie Higgins
| Bertie Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Elbert Joseph Higgins |
| Born | December 8, 1944 |
| Origin | Tarpon Springs, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Country, pop, soft rock |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | bertiehiggins |
Elbert Joseph "Bertie" Higgins (born December 8, 1944,Tarpon Springs, Florida) is an American singer-songwriter. In 1982, Higgins had a Top 20 album with Just Another Day in Paradise. It spawned the #1 Billboard romantic classic ballad "Key Largo", which referenced the Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name and reached #5 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 record chart and #1 in the Billboard adult contemporary charts and #50 in the Billboard Country Music charts. Although Higgins has become an international multi-platinum recording artist, in 2009, the song "Key Largo" was #75 on VH1's Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s.
Higgins, who is of Portuguese, Irish and German descent and once supported himself as a sponge diver, began his career in show business at the age of twelve as a ventriloquist. He won prizes in local talent contests and became a favorite at school assemblies around Tampa Bay, Florida.
Higgins' first band played proms, homecoming dances, and sock hops. After graduating Tarpon Springs High School, Higgins enrolled in St. Petersburg College to study journalism and fine art. He eventually left college and became a drummer for the Tommy Roe band and The Roemans, and played alongside such groups as The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.
Tiring of the rigors of the road and yearning to make his own musical statement, Higgins left The Roemans and returned home to Florida. He put down his drumsticks, picked up a guitar and began crafting music and lyrics. Music producers such as Bob Crewe, Phil Gernhard, and Felton Jarvis took an interest in him and contributed to the growth of the young songwriter. Higgins' talent flourished and he was in demand to play venues throughout the state. During this period, he also met and became a protégé of actor/director Burt Reynolds, who saw Higgins' writing potential and tutored him in screenwriting.
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