Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia
What is the origin of the ‘Happy Birthday’ song?
by John Robinson
Q: Can you help me find out where the song “Happy Birthday to You” came from?
A: The song we all sing at birthdays, now referred to as “Happy Birthday to You,” was originally titled “Good Morning to All” and composed in 1893 by sisters Patty and Mildred Hill. They were schoolteachers in Louisville, Kentucky, and wrote it as a classroom singalong. As the years went by, the melody was used for new lyrics celebrating class members’ birthdays. The song is currently owned by Warner Communications, who paid $28 million for it in 1985. The copyright expired in 2021.
Q: What was the name of the movie that featured the Badfinger song “Come and Get It”?
A: That was from the 1970 Ringo Starr/Peter Sellers film “The Magic Christian.” The song, written and produced by Paul McCartney, was originally recorded by McCartney as a demo disc for The Beatles. The song was given to a group called The Iveys that The Beatles had signed to their Apple Records label. “Come And Get It” was recorded by The Iveys, but before the record was released they changed their name to Badfinger. The word “badfinger” was taken from the title “Badfinger Boogie,” which was the original working title of The Beatles’ song “With A Little Help From My Friends.”
Q: Please tell me who did the song “Here Comes My Baby.” I think it was from the mid-’60s.
A: Sure was. “Here Comes My Baby” (originally recorded by Cat Stevens) was the first U.S. Top 40 single for British group The Tremeloes in the spring of ’67. It’s also actor Jeff Daniels’ favorite ’60s oldie. After the Tremeloes’ leader, Brian Poole, left the band to go solo in 1966, they continued on without him…and began having American hits! They followed up “Here Comes My Baby” with their summer of ’67 hit “Silence Is Golden,” a remake of a Four Seasons track. They had a couple of other American chart singles until they fell off for good in 1968.
Q: Is Screamin’ Jay Hawkins still alive?
A: Nope. Hawkins, whose big hit was the ’50s R&B classic “I Put A Spell On You,” died in 2000 after he had surgery for an aneurysm.
Q: I have been searching high and low for information on a group called Flavor from the ’60s but can’t find anything! Have you heard of this group?
A: Yup. Flavor was a trio that hailed from Maryland, even though they preferred to be known as coming from Washington, D.C. They were originally known as The Bad Boys and comprised of Gary St.Clair on lead vocals and keyboards, Demetri Callas on lead guitar and vocals and Danny Conway on drums and vocals. They recorded for Columbia Records from 1968-1969 and released only three singles: 1) “Sally Had a Party”/ “Shop Around,” 2) “Heart-Teaser”/”Yeah, I’m Hip” and 3) “Dancing In The Street” / “Comin’ on Home.” All three are collector’s items, especially with picture sleeves. “Sally Had a Party” (with riffs stolen from Spencer Davis’ “Gimme Some Lovin'” and The Fantastic Johnny C’s “Boogaloo Down Broadway”) was the only one to make the singles charts but it only peaked at No. 95 in the summer of ’68. St. Clair later recorded a solo album titled “Gary St. Clair,” wrote and produced songs for The Brady Bunch and won a Grammy for his work with All-4-One. Callas became a member of The Four Seasons from 1971-1972.
John Robinson grew up in Stockbridge and graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1969. He’s been an author, TV host, columnist, actor, producer, emcee and radio broadcaster. Robinson’s favorite music of all time includes surf, psychedelia, garage bands, Motown and just plain ol’ good-time rock ‘n’ roll. To read more rock ‘n’ roll trivia, “Paranormal Michigan” stories, and lots more, check out Robinson’s books on his author page at facebook.com/johnrobinsonauthor.
