Post by Rob Durkee on Mar 9, 2009 22:55:34 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Jimmy Boyd, who was best known for the original hit version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," died Saturday, March 7, 2009, at a Santa Monica hospital of cancer. He had turned 70 on January 9.
For years, Casey Kasem on "American Top 40" had proclaimed Boyd to have been the youngest singer even to have a #1 record at the age of 12. Actually, Boyd was 13 and less than a month away from turning 14. Since the Cash Box pop chart hadn't started until 1953, Boyd's song on that chart was credited as reaching #4. Ironically, another singer who recorded "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in 1952, Molly Bee, was 69 years old when she died just last month.
Stevie Wonder's generally recognized as the youngest solo singer on a #1 record as he was 13 years and three months old in August, 1963, when "Fingertips, Part II" reached #1. In July 2004, a solo teenage girl, JoJo, was 13 years and seven months old when "Leave (Get Out)" was a #1 pop airplay hit.
Jimmy Boyd had one other Top 40 hit later on in 1953, when "Tell Me A Story" reached #5. Frankie Laine dueted with Boyd on the novelty record...and it ends with LaIne spanking Boyd.
Jimmy Boyd was also an established actor. Among his roles were as Howard Meechim on the TV show "Bachelor Father" from 1958 to 1961 along with the movies "High Time" and "Inherit The Wind" (both 1960). Also in 1960, he married Yvonne Craig, who would go to play Batgirl on the 1960's "Batman" TV series. Boyd was drafted into the Army in the early 60's and would eventually perform on USO shows in Vietnam. His recording career essentially ended around 1967. He would continue touring with his own music and comedy show.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Jimmy Boyd sold two million copies in less than 10 weeks despite being condemned by the Catholic church and banned by some radio stations. However, the song gained acceptance thanks in part to Boyd's explaining the simplicity of the song to Catholic church leaders. Boyd recorded the song at the urging of Mitch Miller and told Time magazine, "I like it personally, but I didn't think anyone would buy it."
" I Saw Mommy Kissing Claus" has also been recorded by, among others, John Mellencamp, the Ronettes, the Jackson Five, the Carpenters, Mitch Miller, the Lennon Sisters, Paul Anka, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Teresa Brewer, Perry Como, the Four Seasons, the Impressions, Homer and Jethro, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Maddox, Mervin Shiner and Amy Winehouse.
Jimmy Boyd is survived by a son, Devon James Boyd, who is 28.
Jimmy Boyd, who was best known for the original hit version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," died Saturday, March 7, 2009, at a Santa Monica hospital of cancer. He had turned 70 on January 9.
For years, Casey Kasem on "American Top 40" had proclaimed Boyd to have been the youngest singer even to have a #1 record at the age of 12. Actually, Boyd was 13 and less than a month away from turning 14. Since the Cash Box pop chart hadn't started until 1953, Boyd's song on that chart was credited as reaching #4. Ironically, another singer who recorded "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in 1952, Molly Bee, was 69 years old when she died just last month.
Stevie Wonder's generally recognized as the youngest solo singer on a #1 record as he was 13 years and three months old in August, 1963, when "Fingertips, Part II" reached #1. In July 2004, a solo teenage girl, JoJo, was 13 years and seven months old when "Leave (Get Out)" was a #1 pop airplay hit.
Jimmy Boyd had one other Top 40 hit later on in 1953, when "Tell Me A Story" reached #5. Frankie Laine dueted with Boyd on the novelty record...and it ends with LaIne spanking Boyd.
Jimmy Boyd was also an established actor. Among his roles were as Howard Meechim on the TV show "Bachelor Father" from 1958 to 1961 along with the movies "High Time" and "Inherit The Wind" (both 1960). Also in 1960, he married Yvonne Craig, who would go to play Batgirl on the 1960's "Batman" TV series. Boyd was drafted into the Army in the early 60's and would eventually perform on USO shows in Vietnam. His recording career essentially ended around 1967. He would continue touring with his own music and comedy show.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Jimmy Boyd sold two million copies in less than 10 weeks despite being condemned by the Catholic church and banned by some radio stations. However, the song gained acceptance thanks in part to Boyd's explaining the simplicity of the song to Catholic church leaders. Boyd recorded the song at the urging of Mitch Miller and told Time magazine, "I like it personally, but I didn't think anyone would buy it."
" I Saw Mommy Kissing Claus" has also been recorded by, among others, John Mellencamp, the Ronettes, the Jackson Five, the Carpenters, Mitch Miller, the Lennon Sisters, Paul Anka, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Teresa Brewer, Perry Como, the Four Seasons, the Impressions, Homer and Jethro, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Maddox, Mervin Shiner and Amy Winehouse.
Jimmy Boyd is survived by a son, Devon James Boyd, who is 28.
