Ebony Eyes

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to "Ebony Eyes" by Bob Welch from his 1977 album French Kiss! This track, the second single from the album, climbed to number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and hit number two in Australia for four weeks. Fun fact: the song features backing vocals by Juice Newton, adding a sweet layer to its catchy vibe. Fans on Songfacts have shared that the woman in the music video, Mary Ann Zabresky from Long Beach, California, bore a striking resemblance to Valerie Bertinelli, a popular TV star at the time. Some speculated the song was about Linda Ronstadt, though Welch never confirmed this. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a shy woman with captivating eyes at a dance, with Welch comparing his approach to a "cat at night in the trees," a line that captures the song’s sultry, cautious flirtation.

Another cool tidbit comes from the album’s iconic cover, which Welch’s official website dives into. The model, Ellie Seibert, was married to a Capitol Records exec, and the provocative photo—featuring her licking Welch’s face—was a spontaneous idea that the label loved. In a 2003 interview on Knowname Records, Welch shared that the cover was shot professionally after a playful photo session, perfectly capturing the wild, carefree spirit of the late ‘70s club scene. Fans on Facebook in groups like Bob Welch Fans often rave about how French Kiss is a hidden gem, with "Ebony Eyes" standing out for its slick guitar hook and disco-infused soft rock. A 2025 post on X by user @iTakato321 even noted how Welch’s cool, nihilistic vibe reminded them of a math teacher who looked just like him!

Bob Welch kicked off his musical journey in a showbiz family in Hollywood, California, born on August 31, 1945. His father was a producer for Paramount Pictures, working with stars like Bob Hope, while his mother was a singer and actress tied to Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre. As a kid, Welch picked up the clarinet but switched to guitar in his teens, drawn to jazz, R&B, and rock. Instead of attending Georgetown University, he moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, but as he admitted in a 1979 People interview, he spent more time in cafés than classrooms. There, he joined the soul band Seven Souls, playing clubs across the U.S. and Europe, scoring a Top-20 R&B hit in L.A. By 1971, he was recruited by Fleetwood Mac, where he wrote and sang on five albums, including hits like "Hypnotized." His push to move the band to L.A. was pivotal, setting the stage for their later success with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

After leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1974, Welch formed the hard rock trio Paris, but it fizzled out. He then pivoted to pop with French Kiss, a platinum-selling album that showcased his knack for crafting radio-friendly hits like "Ebony Eyes" and "Sentimental Lady." His solo career peaked in the late ‘70s, though he faced struggles with addiction and lawsuits, as noted in his Wikipedia bio. By the ‘80s, he moved to Phoenix and later Nashville, focusing on songwriting and producing. Fans can connect with his legacy on Bob Welch’s official Facebook or follow updates on X. While there’s no official Instagram, fan sites like Last.fm and groups such as Bob Welch Fans keep the Zoo Freak spirit alive, celebrating his smooth, soulful sound.