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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,525 posts)
Sat Jan 7, 2023, 06:57 AM Jan 2023

On this day, January 7, 1980, Carl White of the Rivingtons died.

Tue Jan 7, 2020: On this date, January 7, 1980, Carl White of the Rivingtons died.

Who? Just one of the guys who wrote what should be the National Anthem, that's all.

Hat tip, This Day in Rock: {That domain has nothing to do with rock music anymore.}

1980 – THE RIVINGTONS’ CARL WHITE DIES IN LOS ANGELES, AGED 48
Posted on 2:25 PM by STU SWEATMAN

The Rivingtons

1980 – The Rivingtons’ Carl White dies in Los Angeles, aged 48. The West Coast doo-wop group made their mark on the pop culture with the two nonsense singles “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word.”

The Rivingtons

The Rivingtons were a 1960s doo-wop band, known for their 1962 novelty hit "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The members were lead vocalist Carl White (June 21, 1932 - January 7, 1980), tenor Al Frazier (d. November 13, 2005), baritone Sonny Harris, and bassist Turner "Rocky" Wilson, Jr. Frazier was replaced by Madero White for a period in the late 1970s.

{snip}

History

The Rivingtons had originally been known as The Sharps and had had success in the charts with Thurston Harris's "Little Bitty Pretty One" in 1957. They then appeared on Duane Eddy's 1958 hit "Rebel Rouser", providing handclaps and rebel yells. They also recorded on Warner Brothers Records as The Crenshaws in 1961.

Their first hit as the Rivingtons was "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" (Liberty #55427, 1962). Like many such songs, it began with the bass chanting nonsense syllables (in this case the title), followed by the tenor singing over repetitions of it. "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow", an even more baroque rewrite of the theme, failed to sell, but they returned to the charts the following year with "The Bird's the Word". The B-side of "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow" was "Waiting" (Liberty #55528).

After their two hit singles, the Rivingtons struggled to hit the charts. However, "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word" were revived in 1963, thanks to a Minnesota-based group called the Trashmen recording "Surfin' Bird", made up from the Rivingtons' songs' nonsense syllables. The Trashmen made it in a record shop and passed it off as their own. In fact, it was just a medley of the Rivingtons' choruses minus the verses. The Rivingtons' manager reported it to their lawyers, and the Trashmen were ordered to add the surnames of the Rivingtons to the credits. Because of the publicity in Billboard, the Trashmen had to share the writing credits on the recording and a later version as a sign of good faith. "Surfin' Bird" itself was revived in the late 1970s by the Ramones and the Cramps.

The Rivingtons recorded several more songs in the 1960s, but their recording career ended after the Columbia single "A Rose Growing in the Ruins" failed to sell. They began performing live again in the 1970s, with Madero White replacing Al Frazier.

Carl White died of acute tonsillitis at age 47 in his Los Angeles home. Al Frazier, Sonny Harris and Rocky Wilson played the oldies circuit extensively throughout the 1980s, replacing White with Clay Hammond until 1987, then Andrew Butler into the 1990s. In 1989, the Rivingtons appeared in an episode of L.A. Law as a doo-wop group, "The Sensations". They were later featured in a 1990 episode of Night Court, "Razing Bull", as Mac's former group-mates "The Starlites".

{snip}



RIVINGTONS perform PAPA OOM MOW MOW
93,992 views • Dec 23, 2012

Gilmore Box
4.04K subscribers

The RIVINGTONS on the STEVE ALLEN SHOW closing out the show with PAPA OOM MOW MOW.



RIVINGTONS on THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW

Gilmore Box

7.88K subscribers

26,820 views Dec 23, 2012
Featuring Carl White, formerly with the Sharps, Carl Ell and the Buddies, the Impax, the Ebbtides, the 4 After 5s...here with the Rivingtons February 1964. This was Steve's Westinghouse Show.



The Rivingtons - Birds The Word
586,196 views • Oct 20, 2008

The mold
1.26K subscribers

The Rivingtons - Birds The Word

This is the best known cover of their two most famous tunes.



The Trashmen - Surfing Bird (1963)
2,073,435 views • Oct 24, 2009

Charles Moreira
814 subscribers

One more:



The Beach Boys Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (Live 1964)

Rainy Days

238 subscribers

155,418 views Apr 13, 2018
from "The Beach Boys lost concert"
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
On this day, January 7, 1980, Carl White of the Rivingtons died. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2023 OP
I missed saying something about Steve Allen's birthday, on December 26. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2023 #1

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,525 posts)
1. I missed saying something about Steve Allen's birthday, on December 26.
Sat Jan 7, 2023, 07:36 AM
Jan 2023

Tue Jan 7, 2020: I missed Steve Allen's birthday, on December 26. I'll add something later.

He was so funny.

Steve Allen



Allen in 1977

Born: Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen; December 26, 1921; New York City, U.S.
Died: October 30, 2000 (aged 78); Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Alma mater: Arizona State Teachers College
Occupation: Actor, comedian, television personality, musician, writer
Years active: 1940–2000
Known for: Co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show
Home town: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party: Democratic
Spouse(s): Dorothy Goodman, (m. 1943; div. 1952); Jayne Meadows, (m. 1954)
Children: 4
Website: www.steveallen.com

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late-night television talk show.

Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his extensive network television career. He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted The Tonight Show, he went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including his own The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS's What's My Line? and, from 1977 until 1981, he wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format.

Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer. By his own estimate, he wrote more than 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Working as a lyricist, Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition, for "Gravy Waltz," for which he wrote the lyrics. He also wrote more than 50 books, including novels, children's books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio (2001).

In 1996, Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.

{snip}



First Tonight Show 9/27/54

Anthony DiFlorio

10.5K subscribers

167,516 views Sep 27, 2016
NBC network. First Tonight Show. Monday, September 27, 1954. 11:30 pm to midnight portion. Live from the Hudson Theater in New York.



Steve Allen live from Birdland with Count Basie (7/22/56)

Anthony DiFlorio

10.5K subscribers

10,834 views Jul 23, 2018
Steve Allen does a live remote from Birdland in New York City with Count Basie and His Orchestra on his Sunday Night television program of July 22, 1956. The Count visits Paris and then bops along with a little help from Steve.

Let me know when they put this back on TV.



This Could Be the Start of Something Big-Steve Allen, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Ann Sothern

Drivetime with New York Vinnie

647 subscribers

361,494 views Feb 18, 2013
A great clip of one of my favorite moments from the Steve Allen Show as he is joined by Ann Sothern,Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Dinah Shore and a special mystery guest singing Steve's theme "This Could be the Start of Something Big". Thanks to my good friend JD Smith for the clip.

There are so many covers of this. I can't post them all.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=this+could+be+the+start+of+something+big
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