Shirley Ellis
Advertisement
Advertisement
Top Related Artists
Biography
Soul / pop singer and songwriter Shirley Ellis â born Shirley Marie OâGarra on January 19, 1929, in The Bronk, New York City â is best known for her novelty hits âThe Nitty Grittyâ (1963), âThe Name Gameâ (1964), and âThe Clapping Songâ (1965). Signed to Congress Records, Shirley Ellis scored a hit with her first single, 1963âs âThe Nitty Gritty,â which hit number 8 on the Hot 100 and number 4 on the R&B Singles chart. However, the songâs sequel, â(Thatâs) What the Nitty Gritty Isâ (1964) made the Top 100 but didnât come close to matching the success of the original. She released two more singles in 1964 â âShy Oneâ and âSuch a Nightâ â before scoring another massive hit at the end of that year with âThe Name Game,â which climbed to number 3. The song â written by Shirley Ellis â was based on a childhood name game that she played as a child and the songâs place in pop culture has ensured that children still play this very game more than six decades after its release. In 1965, she released the single âThe Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)â which was a number 8 hit. The song has been covered several times including versions by Gary Glitter, The Belle Stars, Roger Taylor, and others. Shirley Ellis continued releasing singles such as âThe Puzzle Song (A Puzzle in Song)â (1965), âEver See a Diver Kiss His Wife While the Bubbles Bounce About Above the Water?â (1966), and âSugar, Letâs Shing-a-Lingâ (1967) but her hitmaking days were in her past. During her career, she released three albums â In Action (1964), The Name Game (1965), and Sugar, Letâs Shing-a-Ling (1967) and there have been several compilations released over the years. Shirley Ellis died on October 5, 2005, at the age of 76.
Read All
Read Less
Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)
- The Nitty Gritty
- Ever See a Diver Kiss His Wife While the Bubbles Bounce About Above the Water? by Shirley Ellis
- Name Game by The Blossoms
- C.C. Rider
- Kansas City
- Ever See A Diver Kiss His Wife While The Bubbles Bounce About Above The Water?
- The Puzzle Song
- Stagger Lee
- I Told You So
- Whisper To Me Wind
- You Better Be Good World
- One Sour Note
- Don't Let Go
- Bring It On Home To Me
- Stardust
- I See It, I Like It, I Want It
- That's What The Nitty Gritty Is
- Shy One
- This Is Beautiful
- I Never Will Forget
- Get Out
- Such A Night
- Takin' Care Of Business
