Fantastic Oldies Game!

[AlexBrowne]

Johnny Burnette, who had a hit in 1960 with "You're Sixteen" (which was also a #1 for Ringo Starr in 1973, aided by Nilsson on vocals and Paul McCartney on kazoo), was a graduate of Humes High School in Memphis, Elvis Presley's alma mater; in the 50's, before going solo, Johnny had teamed up with other Humes grads, brother Dorsey Burnette and guitarist Paul Burlison, as the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio.

 

[GridLeakBias]

Johnny Burnette, who had a hit in 1960 with "You're Sixteen" (which was also a #1 for Ringo Starr in 1973, aided by Nilsson on vocals and Paul McCartney on kazoo), was a graduate of Humes High School in Memphis, Elvis Presley's alma mater; in the 50's, before going solo, Johnny had teamed up with other Humes grads, brother Dorsey Burnette and guitarist Paul Burlison, as the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio.

Annette Funicello was discovered by Walt Disney in 1955 when she was 12 years old, and she was cast as one of the original Mousketeers on the Disney TV program, The Mickey Mouse Club. Annette had a number of pop record hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Tall Paul"(#7, 1959) "First Name Initial",(#20, 1959), and "O Dio Mio” (#10, 1960). (It is said, though I cannot substantiate the allegation, that, “Tall Paul” was in reference to Annette’s infatuation with Paul Anka.) Annette’s main career was as a movie starlette, starring in a series of "Beach Party" movies with Frankie Avalon: Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach and Beach Blanket Bingo.

 

[AlexBrowne]

One of the most memorable novelty songs in the history of rock is "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" by Brian Hyland, written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss, a #1 hit in the summer of 1960; it was featured in the 1961 film "One, Two, Three," a comedy starring James Cagney: the Russians used the song to try to torture a suspected spy!

 

[GridLeakBias]

One of the most memorable novelty songs in the history of rock is "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" by Brian Hyland, written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss, a #1 hit in the summer of 1960; it was featured in the 1961 film "One, Two, Three," a comedy starring James Cagney: the Russians used the song to try to torture a suspected spy!

Lee Dorsey began a career as a light-heavyweight prizefighter in Portland in the early 1950s. He fought under the name "Kid Chocolate" and was quite successful. The novelty song that launched his career as an R&B singer was inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes -- "Ya Ya" went to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. (Lyrics: “Sittin’ in La La, waitin’ for my Ya Ya, uh humm…”) From 1965 to 1969 Dorsey put seven songs in the Hot 100, the most successful of which was "Working In The Coal Mine" (#8 spot) in 1966. Dorsey died in New Orleans in 1986 at the age of 61.

 

[AlexBrowne]

Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey were brothers whose fame as bandleaders were at their height in the big band era of the '30s and '40s, but both still had hits associated with them which made it into the top 10 during the rock era: in 1957, "So Rare," by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (with Jimmy on saxophone), peaked at #2 on the charts, and in 1958, "Tea For Two Cha Cha," by The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington (Tommy had died in 1956, but the band carried on fronted by Covington), peaked at #7.

 

[GridLeakBias]

Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey were brothers whose fame as bandleaders were at their height in the big band era of the '30s and '40s, but both still had hits associated with them which made it into the top 10 during the rock era: in 1957, "So Rare," by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (with Jimmy on saxophone), peaked at #2 on the charts, and in 1958, "Tea For Two Cha Cha," by The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington (Tommy had died in 1956, but the band carried on fronted by Covington), peaked at #7.

Jalacy Hawkins, born and raised in Cleveland, originally set out to become an opera singer, but when his initial ambitions failed, he began his career as a conventional blues singer and pianist. The wild songs and onstage theatrics of his self-created brand of voodoo jive earned him the name Screamin' Jay Hawkins. His most successful recording, "I Put A Spell On You" (1956) has been selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

 

[AlexBrowne]

The first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera was the Tommy album released in 1969 by The Who, with most songs composed by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend; three cuts from the album --"Pinball Wizard," "I'm Free," and "See Me, Feel Me" -- charted as singles in 1969 and 1970, a film version followed in 1975, and then a stage version in 1993.

 

[GridLeakBias]

The first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera was the Tommy album released in 1969 by The Who, with most songs composed by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend; three cuts from the album --"Pinball Wizard," "I'm Free," and "See Me, Feel Me" -- charted as singles in 1969 and 1970, a film version followed in 1975, and then a stage version in 1993.

Joe Barry (Joseph Barrios) was born in Cut Off, LA. In the mid-1950s he switched from true Cajun music to Rhythm and Blues, helping to create the local "Swamp Pop" genre. Barry’s most popular recording was "I’m A Fool To Care," (#24 Pop, 1961) which he also re-recorded in Cajun French as "Je suis bêt pour t’aimer". (Barry’s voice and styling was amazingly similar to Fats Domino.)

 

[AlexBrowne]

Brooklyn-born Barry Mann and his wife Cynthia Weil are among rock's songwriting royalty, responsible for such classics as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers, "Kicks" and "Hungry" by Paul Revere And The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals, "Rock And Roll Lullaby" by B.J. Thomas, "He's Sure The Boy I Love" by The Crystals, and many more; but Mann's fans always want to shake his hand for making our babies fall in love with us thanks to his own 1961 recording, "Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)."

 

[GridLeakBias]

Brooklyn-born Barry Mann and his wife Cynthia Weil are among rock's songwriting royalty, responsible for such classics as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers, "Kicks" and "Hungry" by Paul Revere And The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals, "Rock And Roll Lullaby" by B.J. Thomas, "He's Sure The Boy I Love" by The Crystals, and many more; but Mann's fans always want to shake his hand for making our babies fall in love with us thanks to his own 1961 recording, "Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)."

Big Joe Turner, a blues shouter whose career began in Kansas City, recorded and released "Shake, Rattle and Roll", a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song. It reached #1 on the Billboard R&B chart in June 1954, but its success did not cross over to the pop chart, perhaps due to the lyrics which were raunchy and contained many sexual references.

Bill Haley & His Comets' cover version (also in 1954) had partly sanitised lyrics in an attempt to be more palatable to white audiences. This cleanup of lyrics meant removal of references considered sexual in nature.

Elvis Presley recorded the song twice - in a 1955 demo during his Sun Records tenure and as a 1956 single for RCA Victor. Both versions by Elvis used Turner's original lyrics combined with a faster-paced version of Haley's arrangement.

There were other notable cover versions of Turner's and Haley's arrangements by The Beatles, Johnny Horton, Swinging Blue Jeans, Fats Domino, and Huey Lewis and the News.

 

[AlexBrowne]

The Rivieras -- the rock band from Indiana, not the doo-wop group from New Jersey -- were a one-hit wonder in 1964 (on the Riviera label) with their top 5 hit "California Sun," which includes this observation about San Francisco women: "the girls are frisky in ol 'Frisco, a pretty little chick wherever you go."

 

[ChrisInMI]

Gale Garnett is a singer/actress originally from New Zealand, now based in Canada, known for her 1964 Grammy-winning hit "We'll Sing In The Sunshine"; although she did have another chart single with "Lovin' Place", she is usually regarded as a one-hit wonder.

 

[palalwanabe]

Gale Garnett not to be confused with Gale Storm from Bloomington Texas, who covered such hits as Dark Moon, Ivory Tower and Teenage Prayer. originally done by Bonnie Guitar, Cathy Carr and Gloria Mann respectively.

Pal Al Wanabe

 

[GridLeakBias]

Gale Garnett not to be confused with Gale Storm from Bloomington Texas, who covered such hits as Dark Moon, Ivory Tower and Teenage Prayer. originally done by Bonnie Guitar, Cathy Carr and Gloria Mann respectively.

Pal Al Wanabe

The only major hit by the Capris (the NY group, not to be confused with the group from Philly by the same name), "There's a Moon Out Tonight” b/w an interesting up-tempo novelty tune titled "Indian Girl", was originally released in 1958 on the obscure Planet label, a small independent out of NYC. Planet was not able to effectively promote the record and it became an almost instant obscurity. Original Planet pressings of "There's a Moon out Tonight" can now fetch up to $1,000 in collectors circles, when one of these rare platters surfaces. Eventually the song was reissued on Lost Nite (#101) and then again on the Old Town label and by early 1961, the record had made the national charts and stayed there for over three months.

 

[AlexBrowne]

The Raiders' only #1 single came in 1971, years after the group's Revolutionary War colonial dress period (then, in 1966-67, they had such big hits as "Kicks," "Hungry," "Good Thing," and "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?"): it was "Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)," written by John D. Loudermilk, about the forced move of the Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma in the late 18th century; it had previously charted for British singer Don Fardon in 1968, but Raiders lead singer Mark Lindsay, who is part-Native American, figured correctly that it would be an even bigger hit for his group.

 

[palalwanabe]

John D. Loudermilk composed other great songs such as: Paper Tiger, Norman (Boots Randolph on Trombone;yes trombone, not sax) and Sad Movies all for Sue Thompson, also Poetry In Motion and Talk Back Trembling Lips for Johnny Tillotson. Also "Ebony Eyes' - Everly Bros, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - Casinos, "Tobacco Road" Various , "Thou Shalt Not Steal" - Dick and DeeDee, "Three Stars" - Tommy Dee, "Waterloo" - Stonewall Jackson, and "Rose and a Baby Ruth"- George Hamilton.

 

[GridLeakBias]

John D. Loudermilk composed other great songs such as: Paper Tiger, Norman (Boots Randolph on Trombone;yes trombone, not sax) and Sad Movies all for Sue Thompson, also Poetry In Motion and Talk Back Trembling Lips for Johnny Tillotson. Also "Ebony Eyes' - Everly Bros, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - Casinos, "Tobacco Road" Various , "Thou Shalt Not Steal" - Dick and DeeDee, "Three Stars" - Tommy Dee, "Waterloo" - Stonewall Jackson, and "Rose and a Baby Ruth"- George Hamilton.

Although John D. Loudermilk's main claim to fame was as a prolific songwriter, he also recorded some of his songs, including "Sittin' in the Balcony", under the stage name Johnny Dee, which he used early on while performing on a radio show (WTIK Durham, NC). He also used the name Ebe Sneezer on some recordings under the Colonial label. I believe his best known recording was “Language of Love”, released in 1962 in his own name.

I know this is way too much information, but as a note for those who are having trouble finding their niche in life: Loudermilk’s former occuaptions were - sign painter, telegraph deliverer, window dresser, bulldozer operator, commercial artist, janitor, truck driver,
shoe shine boy, paper boy, carpenter's helper, department-store clerk, steam-shovel oiler, tobacco farmer, factory worker, hosiery-mill worker, lifeguard, cotton-gin worker, door-to-door Bible salesman, television cameraman, photographer, and part-time vendor at football games. Whew!

 

[AlexBrowne]

In 1962, Massachusetts native Freddy Cannon introduced the world to "Palisades Park," a "swingin' place" in New Jersey where the songwriter (TV producer Chuck Barris) apparently fell in love, but Cannon's first four charted singles, in 1959-1960, took us on a tour of the American South: "Tallahassee Lassie," "Okefenokee," "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans," and "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy."

 

[GridLeakBias]

In 1962, Massachusetts native Freddy Cannon introduced the world to "Palisades Park," a "swingin' place" in New Jersey where the songwriter (TV producer Chuck Barris) apparently fell in love, but Cannon's first four charted singles, in 1959-1960, took us on a tour of the American South: "Tallahassee Lassie," "Okefenokee," "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans," and "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy."

Antoine “Fats” Domino came out of New Orleans in the 50s to become one of rock-and-roll's earliest and best stars. With 65 million record sales to his credit, Fats out sold every Fifties rock and and roll pioneer except Elvis Presley.
He signed a contract with Imperial in 1949 and exploded onto the R&R/R&B scene in 1955 when his song, "Ain't That A Shame," was covered by white recording artist Pat Boone. Boone's version went to #1, and Domino's version on Imperial went to #10 on the Pop charts. His recording success continued into the 60s with twenty-two of his Imperial singles being double-sided hits (both the A-side and the B-side of the single charted). Domino’s last Top Ten hit came in 1960 with “Walking To New Orleans”, (#6 Pop and #2 R&B). His numerous recognitions in the music field include Grammy's Lifetime Achievement and Hall Of Fame Awards, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

 

[AlexBrowne]

Pat Boone was the son-in-law of Decca recording artist Red Foley, a Kentucky-born Grand Ole Opry star, gospel singer, and composer; Foley's biggest single -- #1 on the charts in 1950 -- was "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy," and he had several other hits in the early 1950s which had geographical titles, including "Birmingham Bounce," "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I," "Cincinnati Dancing Pig," and "Alabama Jubilee."