NUMBER ONE HITS!!!

Witch Doctor - David Seville

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:44:00 +0000

#1: May 3 - May 16, 1958

"Witch Doctor" is a song written and performed by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. and was released in 1958. Bagdasarian is better remembered as David Seville, the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Song information

The song tells the story of a man who loved a woman who did not return his affections. Longing for her companionship, the man went to see a witch doctor for advice on the situation. The wise witch doctor offered his advice saying, "Oo ee, oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla bing bang" (which is repeated four times as the chorus of the song). At the middle of the song the man tells the woman he loves about his asking the witch doctor for advice.

The "witch doctor" was in fact Bagdasarian's own voice sped up to double speed, a technique he would later exploit to create Alvin and the Chipmunks (and had also used on at least one other pre-Chipmunk song, The Bird on My Head). Because of this, it is often referred to (even in later compilations) as the first song by the Chipmunks; this is not precisely true. For one, only one sped-up "chipmunk" voice is featured instead of three. Furthermore, Bagdasarian (as Seville) insisted that it was not technically a Chipmunks song in an episode of The Alvin Show when he exclaims "I made that record once!" and Alvin responds "But not with us!" The first true song by the "group" was The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late).

Chart performance

Credited as David Seville on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, the single was considered a major surprise hit on the charts where it peaked at #1, stayed at #1 for two weeks and became Seville's first #1 single. The single also peaked at #1 on the Billboard Black Singles Chart and on the Cash Box chart as well. The single sold over 1 million copies in the United States.

Twilight Time - The Platters

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:51:00 +0000

#1: April 26 - May 2, 1958

The Platters were one of the top vocal groups of the 1950's, selling 53 million records and being among the first doo-wop groups to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

The original members were; Tony Williams, the lead vocalist (Tony died in 1992), David Lynch, tenor (David died in 1981), Alex Hodge, baritone, who was soon replaced by Paul Robi (Paul died in 1989), Herb Reed, bass,and Zola Taylor. Their manager and producer Buck Ram (Buck died in 1991). Here is their story:

The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1953. The original members were lead singer Tony Williams, bass Herb Reed, tenor David Lynch, and Alex Hodge. They were under the direction of music entrepreneur Ralph Bass for a time before management of the group was taken over by Buck Ram. Buck Ram had been born Samuel Ram in Chicago in 1907. Although he had graduated from law school, he never practiced law and instead went into the music and entertainment business.

Buck worked as an arranger for Mills Music. He wrote songs, gave voice lessons, toured with some bands, and managed his own group, the Three Suns. In 1954 he formed a talent agency in Los Angeles and began to work with a group of high school students who called themselves the Penguins. Early in 1955 the Penguins became one of the first black acts to crack the top ten on the pop charts with Earth Angel [Will You Be Mine]. Buck took over the Platters from Ralph Bass and made some changes to the group, replacing Hodge with baritone Paul Robi.

He also moved a female singer from another act that he was promoting, Shirley Gunther and the Queens, into the Platters. She was Los Angeles native Zola Taylor. Ram then took a song that he had written called Only You [And You Alone] and had the revised lineup record it on the Mercury label. It was a song that the old group had recorded on Federal, but Federal had chosen not to use it.

Buck also brought the Penguins to Mercury. Although the Penguins had already had a major hit on DooTone with Earth Angel, they would never again place a song in the top forty.

For the Platters, however, it was a different story. The recording of Only You made by the revised group on the Mercury label entered the charts in October, 1955. This was an era in which it was a common occurrence for R&B songs to be covered by white acts, and the cover would usually be the one that got air time by disc jockeys. Only You was quickly covered by such a group, the Hilltoppers, which had been formed at Western Kentucky College. The Hilltoppers' version on Dot entered the charts about six weeks after the version done by the Platters for Mercury, and it went to number eight. But the Platters did even better ... their recording shot up to number one on the R&B chart and crossed over to the pop chart, where it reached number five.

The Platters followed it up almost immediately with another song that had been written by Buck Ram, this time with even more success. The Great Pretender was the first number one pop song for the Platters. A very popular song in 1956, it was satirized by Stan Freberg. In the 80's it was covered by Lester Bowie and by Freddie Mercury and Queen...read more

Tequila - The Champs

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:26:00 +0000

Tequila
March 22 - April 25, 1958

The Champs were a rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila." Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records ^[1] to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess (aka Dave Dupree) single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to Nowhere". "Tequila" went to No. 1 in just three weeks and the band became the first group to go to the top spot with an instrumental that was their first release.^[2] The song was recorded at Gold Star Studios in 1958, and in 1959 won the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording.

There are many cover versions of the tune, for example by rappers A.L.T. and XL Singleton. The Champs also had success with instrumentals such as a cover of Chubby Checker's "Limbo Rock" and the famous "La Cucaracha". In 1985 it featured prominently in the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", that inspired a 1985 Hip-Hop hit for rapper Joeski Love based on Tequila's melody.

The Champs also recorded a sequel to Tequila entitled Too Much Tequila.

Band members:

Chuck Rio - saxophone, vocals (born Danny Flores, Jul 11, 1929, Santa Paula, California, died Sep 19, 2006, Huntington Beach, California)
Dave Burgess - guitar (born Lancaster, California)
Dale Norris - guitar, keyboards (born Springfield, Massachusetts)
Bobby Morris - bass (born Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Gen Alden - drums (born Cisco, Texas)

Band members later featured Glen Campbell and Seals and Crofts. "Tequila!" was written and sung by the saxophone player Danny Flores, although he was credited as Chuck Rio because he was under contract to another record label at the time. Flores, who died in September 2006, was known as the "Godfather of dirty mexican rock."^[2] Flores' "dirty sax" and his joyous hollering of "Tequila!" are the hallmarks of the song. ^[3] Flores signed away the U.S. rights to the song but retained world-wide rights until his death.^[4]

Don't - Elvis Presley

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:09:00 +0000

February 15-March 21 1958

"Don't" is a song performed by Elvis Presley, which was released in 1957. It was Presley's eleventh number-one hit in the United States.

“Don't”

B-side

"I Beg of You"

Released

1958

Format

Recorded

Elvis Presley singles chronology

"Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice"
(1957)

"Don't / I Beg Of You"
(1958)

"Hard Headed Woman"
(1958)

At The Hop - Danny and the Juniors

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:42:00 +0000

January 11 - February 14, 1958

Danny and the Juniors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Danny & The Juniors were a Philadelphia based quartet comprising of Danny Rapp, Dave White, Frank Maffei and Joe Terranova. They are most widely recognized for their hit single "At the Hop", which was released in 1957. They are sometimes erroneously stated as being an Italian-American band. However, lead singer Danny Rapp was of Irish extraction.

The 1950s

Initially formed in Philadelphia in 1957 as "The Juvenairs", they signed with local record label Singulair. Artie Singer of Singulair, along with a local disc jockey named Larry Brown, changed the name of the group to "Danny & The Juniors".[1]

Dave White co-wrote a song for the group, "Do the Bop", to accommodate a new dance called The Bop that was popular on Dick Clark's TV show, American Bandstand. The song came to the attention of Clark, who suggested that they rename it "At the Hop".[1] The song was not initially a success, but after being played on American Bandstand, it was picked up by ABC-Paramount Records, and stayed at the top of the U.S. charts for seven weeks. It went on to sell over two million copies worldwide. The song was followed in 1958 by the similar sounding "Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay", which also made it into the Top 20.

The 1960s
In 1960, Danny and the Juniors were signed to Dick Clark's Swan Records label, and they released one more record, "Twistin' USA". It made it into the Top 40, and became their final hit single. They went on to release several more singles, but were not able to repeat their earlier successes.

Dave White left the group in the early 1960s to concentrate on writing and production. White was very successful in this venture, composing a number of hits, including "You Don't Own Me" for Leslie Gore, and "1-2-3" and "Like A Baby" for Len Barry.

In the late 1960s, the Juniors also appeared on Guyden Records, Mercury Records, and Capitol Records, where they re-recorded "Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay" in 1968.

The 1970s and the end of the Juniors
In 1976, "At the Hop" was re-issued, and it made its way into the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart. After a few quiet years, Danny Rapp was found dead in a hotel in Arizona on April 5, 1983, of an apparent suicide. "Danny & The Juniors" still tours, with Joe Terry (lead), Frank Maffei, and Frank's brother Bobby Maffei.

Band member details
Danny Rapp (born Daniel Joseph Rapp, May 10, 1941, in Philadelphia - died April 5, 1983) - Lead Tenor vocalist.
Joe Terranova (born Joseph Terranova, January 30, 1941, in Philadelphia) - Baritone / Bass vocalist
Dave White (born Dave White Tricker, September 1, 1940, in Philadelphia) - Tenor vocalist.
Frank Maffei (born November 1940, in Philadelphia) - Second Tenor vocalist.

Awards and recognition

Danny and The Juniors were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

You Send Me - Sam Cooke

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:06:00 +0000

December 9 - December 29, 1957

Sam Cooke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was a popular and influential American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Musicians and critics today recognize him as one of the founders of soul music, and as one of the most important singers in soul music history.[1] He has been called "the king of soul" by many, and while some may dispute this title, Sam Cooke's legacy is an extensive one and his impact on soul music is undeniable. He had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. He is therefore seen by many as "the creator" of the genre. Major hits like "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World" and "Bring It on Home to Me" are some of his most popular songs.

Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career.[1] He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the Civil Rights Movement,[1] using his musical ability to bridge gaps between black and white audiences.

Death
The details of the case involving Sam Cooke's death are still in dispute. The official police record[2] states that Cooke was shot to death by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel, where Cooke had checked in earlier that evening. Franklin claimed that Cooke had broken into the manager's office/apartment in a rage, wearing nothing but a shoe and an overcoat (and nothing beneath it) demanding to know the whereabouts of a woman who had accompanied him to the motel. Franklin said that the woman was not in the office and that she told Cooke this, but the enraged Cooke did not believe her and violently grabbed her, demanding again to know the woman's whereabouts. According to Franklin, she grappled with Cooke, the two of them fell to the floor, and she then got up and ran to retrieve her gun. She said that she then fired at Cooke in self-defense because she feared for her life. According to Franklin, Cooke exclaimed, "Lady, you shot me," before finally falling, mortally wounded.

According to Franklin and to the motel's owner, Evelyn Carr, they had been on the phone together at the time of the incident. Thus, Carr claimed to have overheard Cooke's intrusion and the ensuing conflict and gunshots. Carr called the police to request that they go to the motel, informing them that she believed a shooting had occurred.

A coroner's inquest was convened to investigate the incident. The woman who had accompanied Cooke to the motel was identified as Elisa Boyer, who had also called the police that night shortly before Carr did. Boyer had called the police from a phone booth near the motel, telling them she had just escaped from being kidnapped.

Boyer told the police that she had first met Cooke earlier that night and had spent the evening in his company. She claimed that after they left a local nightclub together, she had repeatedly requested that he take her home, but that he instead took her against her will to the Hacienda Motel. She claimed that once in one of the motel's rooms, Cooke physically forced her onto the bed and that she was certain he was going to rape her. According to Boyer, when Cooke stepped into the bathroom for a moment, she quickly grabbed her clothes and ran from the room. She claimed that in her haste, she had also scooped up most of Cooke's clothing by mistake. She said that she ran first to the manager's office and knocked on the door seeking help. However, she said that the manager took too long in responding, so, fearing Cooke would soon be coming after her, she fled the motel altogether before the manager ever opened the door. She claimed she then put her own clothing back on, stashed Cooke's clothing away and went to the phone booth from which she called police.

Boyer's story is the only account of what happened between the two that night. However, her story has long been called into question. Because of inconsistencies between her version of events and details reported by other witnesses as well as circumstantial evidence (e.g., cash that Cooke was reportedly carrying was never recovered, and Boyer was soon after arrested for prostitution), many people feel it is more likely that Boyer went willingly to the motel with Cooke and then slipped out of the room with Cooke's clothing in order to rob him rather than to escape an attempted rape.

Ultimately, though, such questions were beyond the scope of the inquest, whose purpose was simply to establish the circumstances of Franklin's role in the shooting, not to determine exactly what had happened between Cooke and Boyer preceding that. Boyer's leaving the motel room with almost all of Cooke's clothing in tow, regardless of exactly why she did so, combined with the fact that tests showed Cooke was inebriated at the time seemed to provide a plausible explanation for Cooke's bizarre behavior and state of dress, as reported by Franklin and Carr. This explanation, together with the fact that Carr, from what she said she had overheard, corroborated Franklin's version of events, was enough to convince the coroner's jury to accept Franklin's explanation that it was a case of justifiable homicide. And with that verdict, authorities officially closed the case on Cooke's death.[3]

However, some of Cooke's family and supporters have rejected not only Boyer's version of events but also Franklin's and Carr's. They believe that there was a conspiracy from the start to murder Cooke, that this murder took place in some manner entirely different from the official account of Cooke's intrusion into Franklin's office/apartment, and that Franklin, Boyer and Carr were all lying to provide a cover story for this murder. None have been able to provide any evidence of this, however.[1] [2] [3]

My brother was first class all the way. He would not check into a $3-a-night motel; that wasn't his style.— Agnes Cooke-Hoskins, sister of Sam Cooke, attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2005 tribute to Cooke.

In her autobiography, Rage To Survive, singer Etta James claimed that she viewed Cooke's body in the funeral home and that the injuries she observed were well beyond what could be explained by the official account of Franklin alone having fought with Cooke. James described Cooke as having been so badly beaten that his head was nearly separated from his shoulders, his hands were broken and crushed, and his nose was mangled.

Nevertheless, no solid, reviewable evidence supporting a conspiracy theory has been presented to date. However, in Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective, the biography written by Cooke's great-nephew, he discusses little-known facts, glaring inconsistencies, and an alternative scenario of the singer's death.

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:24:00 +0000

November 4 - December 8, 1957

Elvis Presley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elvis Aaron Presley[1][2]a (January 8, 1935–August 16, 1977), was an American singer, musician and actor. He is a cultural icon, often known as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll", or simply "The King".

Presley began his career as one of the first performers of rockabilly, an uptempo fusion of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat. His novel versions of existing songs, mixing "black" and "white" sounds, made him popular—and controversial—as did his uninhibited stage and television performances. He recorded songs in the rock and roll genre, with tracks like "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" later embodying the style. Presley had a versatile voice and had unusually wide success encompassing other genres, including gospel, blues, ballads and pop. To date, he is the only performer to have been inducted into four music halls of fame.

In the 1960s, Presley made the majority of his thirty-three movies—mainly poorly reviewed musicals. In 1968, he returned to live music in a television special and thereafter performed across the U.S., notably in Las Vegas. Throughout his career, he set records for concert attendance, television ratings and recordings sales. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in the history of popular music.

Breakthrough year: 1956

Presley's sound proved hard to categorize; he was billed or labeled in the media as "The King of Western Bop", "The Hillbilly Cat" and "The Memphis Flash".

On August 15, 1955, "Colonel" Tom Parker became Presley's manager. By August 1955, Sun Studios had released ten sides credited to "Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill", all typical of the developing Presley style. Several major record labels had shown interest in signing Presley. On November 21, 1955, Parker and Phillips negotiated a deal with RCA Victor Records to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $35,000.[55][56]

To increase the singer's exposure, Parker finally brought Presley to television (In March 1955, Presley had failed an audition for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts). He booked six Dorsey Brothers' Stage Show appearances (CBS), beginning January 28, 1956, when Presley was introduced by Cleveland DJ Bill Randle. Parker also obtained a lucrative two-show deal with Milton Berle (NBC).

On January 27, Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel," was released. By April it hit number one in the U.S., and sold one million copies. On March 23, RCA released Elvis Presley, his first album. Like the Sun recordings, the majority of the tracks were country songs.[57]
From April 23, he had two weeks at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip—billed this time as "the Atomic Powered Singer". His shows were badly received, by critics and the conservative guests. Presley saw Freddie Bell and the Bellboys live in Vegas, and liked their version of Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog". By May 16, he had added the song to his own act.[58]

A few days after an April 3 appearance for The Milton Berle Show in San Diego, a near-fatal flight taking Presley's band to Nashville for a recording session left all three badly shaken.[59] After more hectic touring, Presley returned to The Milton Berle Show on June 5 and performed "Hound Dog" (without his guitar). Singing it uptempo, he then began a slower version. His exaggerated, straight-legged shuffle around the microphone stand stirred the audience—as did his vigorous leg shaking and hip thrusts in time to the beat. Presley's "gyrations" created a storm of controversy—even eclipsing the 'communist threat' headlines prevalent at the time.[60] The press described his performance as "vulgar" and "obscene".[60][61] Presley was obliged to explain himself on the local New York City TV show Hy Gardner Calling: "Rock and roll music, if you like it, and you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I have to move around. I can't stand still. I've tried it, and I can't do it."[62]

The Berle shows drew such huge ratings that Steve Allen (NBC), not a fan of rock and roll, booked him for one appearance in New York. Allen wanted "to do a show the whole family can watch" and introduced a "new Elvis" in white bow tie and black tails. Presley sang "Hound Dog" for less than a minute to a Basset Hound in a top hat. According to one author, "Allen thought Presley was talentless and absurd... [he] set things up so that Presley would show his contrition..."[63][64] The day after (July 2), the single "Hound Dog" was recorded and Scotty Moore said they were "all angry about their treatment the previous night".[64] (Presley often referred to the Allen show as the most ridiculous performance of his career.[62]) A few days later, Presley made a "triumphant" outdoor appearance in Memphis at which he announced: "You know, those people in New York are not gonna change me none. I'm gonna show you what the real Elvis is like tonight."[65]

Country vocalists The Jordanaires accompanied Presley on The Steve Allen Show and their first recording session together produced "Any Way You Want Me", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog". The Jordanaires would work with the singer through the 1960s.

Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:48:00 +0000

November 26, 1955 - January 13, 1956

Tennessee Ernie Ford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born in Bristol, the seat of Sullivan County in far northeastern Tennessee, to the former Maud Long and Clarence Thomas Ford,[1] Ford began his radio career as an announcer at station WOPI in Bristol. In 1939, he left the station to pursue classical music and voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. First Lieutenant Ford served in World War II as the bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress flying missions over Japan. After the war, Ford worked at radio stations in San Bernardino and Pasadena, California. In San Bernardino, Ford was hired as a radio announcer. He was assigned to host an early morning country music disc jockey program titled "Bar Nothin' Ranch." To differentiate himself, he created the personality of "Tennessee Ernie," a wild, madcap exaggerated hillbilly and recorded songs such as The Bonnie Blue Flag. He became popular in the area and was soon hired away by Pasadena's KXLA radio. At KXLA he continued doing the same show and also joined the cast of Cliffie Stone's popular live KXLA country show "Dinner Bell Roundup" as a vocalist while still doing the early morning broadcast.

Stone, a part-time talent scout for Capitol Records, brought him to the attention of the label. In 1949, while still doing his morning show, he signed a contract with Capitol. He also became a local TV star as the star of Stone's popular Southern California Hometown Jamboree TV show. He released almost 50 country singles through the early 1950s, several of which made the charts. Many of his early records, including "Shotgun Boogie," "Blackberry Boogie," and so on were exciting, driving boogie-woogie records featuring exciting accompaniment by the Hometown Jamboree band which included Jimmy Bryant on lead guitar and pioneer pedal steel guitarist Speedy West. "I'll Never Be Free," a duet pairing Ford with Capitol Records pop singer Kay Starr, became a huge country and pop crossover hit in 1950.

Ford eventually ended his KXLA morning show and in the early 1950's, moved on from Hometown Jamboree. He took over from bandleader Kay Kyser as host of the TV version of NBC quiz show Kollege of Musical Knowledge when it returned briefly in 1954 after a four-year hiatus. He also portrayed the 'country bumpkin' "Cousin Ernie" on I Love Lucy.

If I Knew You Were Comin' Id've Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:12:00 +0000

March 25 - April 28, 1950

Eileen Barton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eileen Barton (November 24, 1924 - June 27, 2006), was an American singer best known for her apostrophic 1950 hit song, "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake." She was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her birthdate is often given as 1929, but a certified copy of her birth certificate shows that she was born in 1924. This was done commonly, to shave a few years from a performer's age. Eileen's parents, Benny and Elsie Barton, were vaudeville performers. She first appeared in her parents' act at age 2-1/2, singing "Ain't Misbehavin'," on a dare to her parents from columnist (and later radio star) Goodman Ace. At 3-1/2, she appeared at the Palace Theater, doing two shows a day as part of comedian Ted Healy's routine (Ted Healy would go on to put together "The Three Stooges."

She soon became a child star. By age 6, she appeared on "The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour," a radio program sponsored by Horn & Hardart's "Automat," a then-well-known restaurant chain, and by age 7 she was working with Milton Berle on his "Community Sing" radio program, using the name "Jolly Gillette" and playing the sponsor's "daughter" (the sponsor was Gillette Razors). She would ask to sing, he would tell her she couldn't, and she would remind him that her daddy was the sponsor, so he'd let her sing a current hit song. At 8, she had a daily singing program of her own on radio station WMCA, "Arnold's Dinner Club." She also acted on radio series such as Death Valley Days. At age 11, she left show business briefly. At age 14 she went on the Broadway stage as an understudy to Nancy Walker in Best Foot Forward, followed by an appearance under her own name with Elaine Stritch in Angel in the Wings. At age 15, she appeared as a guest singer on a Johnny Mercer variety series, leading to her being noticed by Frank Sinatra, who took her under his wing and put her in a regular spot on the CBS radio show that he hosted in the 1940s. She co-starred on Sinatra's show for one year, and was also part of Sinatra's act at the Paramount Theater in 15 appearances there. She also appeared on her own and as a guest performer with such stars as Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and Danny Kaye.

Soon she got her own radio programs, first one called Teen Timers, and later the 13-episode The Eileen Barton Show. She also did some early television. Her first record, done for Capitol Records, was "Would You Believe Me?" (catalog number 402), with the orchestra of Lyle "Skitch" Henderson, in 1948. In 1949 she cut the record of "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" (written by Bob Merrill, Albert Hoffman and Al Trace; Trace used the pseudonym Clem Watts) and introduced it on Don McNeill's radio program, The Breakfast Club. On the record, Trace's band musicians backed her, but were given billing as "The New Yorkers." It was first released by National Records, a New York-based company mostly specializing in rhythm & blues records, as catalog number 9103, and when National's owner, Al Green, decided it was too big a seller for National to handle, it was later distributed by Mercury Records, whose co-owner was Al Green's son Irving.

The record became one of the best-selling records on an independent label of all time, charting at #1 for twelve weeks, and altogether on the Billboard charts for over four months. As is often the case in early music business stories, Eileen - in an interview in 2005 - indicated she never received a penny in royalties from either National or Mercury for her record's success, although by contract she was supposed to receive 5% of each sale. After the success of this record, she became a night club and stage performer, appearing at all the important clubs in New York City and many others. She continued to record for both National and Mercury, making "Honey, Won't You Honeymoon with Me?" (catalog number 9109) and "May I Take Two Giant Steps?" (catalog number 9112) for National and "You Brought a New Kind of Love" (catalog number 5410) for Mercury. Later she moved over to Coral Records, and charted with some cover versions of songs that were bigger hits for other artists, such as "Cry," "Sway," and others. She also appeared in motion pictures and television, working the restaurant and night club circuit well into the 1970s.

Eileen Barton died at her West Hollywood home from ovarian cancer. She had no children and was not married at the time of her passing. Barton was 81 years old at the time of her death.

A TRIBUTE TO THE BEST AMONG US!

noreply@blogger.com (Santi Marie) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:27:00 +0000

One has to be a real music enthusiast to sustain this blog which I am! This blog is paying tribute to the artists who have given us wonderful memories and moments because of the music they have played and sang. So enjoy browsing and listening to the number 1 hits going back since the 50's!