Patti Page was born Clara Ann Fowler in Oklahoma and worked in the art department of Tulsa, OK radio station, KTUL. Hearing her sing, the station manager recruited her as the featured singer on a 15-minute radio program sponsored by the Page Milk Company. On air, Fowler was dubbed "Patti Page," adopting the last name from the show's sponsor; she later legally changed her name.Throughout the 1940s, Miss Page released a series of successful singles, including the 1950's The Tennessee Waltz, at the time, the largest-selling single by a female performer. It's now the Tennessee state song. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s.
She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s and in 1953, recorded "(How Much is) That Doggie In the Window?" (words and music by Bob Merrill and Ingrid Reuterskiöld). This novelty tune, complete with barking dog sounds, reached #1 on the Billboard charts, holding that spot for over 5 months. Originally recorded for a children's album, it was also the first #1 song with a question in the title. An online video shows Miss Page singing the song while a small boy watches. Strangely, he is never given the puppy.
Lyricist Bob Merrill also wrote many other novelty hits, several peaked at #1 for other artists, including: If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake (Eileen Barton), Mambo Italiano (Rosemary Clooney), Honeycomb (Jimmie Rodgers), Chicka Boom (Guy Mitchell).
Some of us (ahem) may remember these songs — from our parents listening to them, of course.
11 comments:
Not too long ago, we found Doggie on YouTube for the kidlets.
I loved Patti Page back in the fifties and still do. I play that little song on the piano now and then. Mockingbird Hill and anything else she sang was wonderful! The Tennessee Waltz is another I love to play. She was such a great singer.
So a swede was involved in that song :-)
That was one of the first songs we were taught to sing in English when I went to school :-) I've never liked it at all :-) :-) :-)
Have a great day!
Christer.
The songs seem so very silly now, don't they?
I remember singing along when those songs came on the radio or when my aunt played them on old 78 records...Doggy in the window was a favorite...
Love your cute little doggie in the window! I do remember those songs, and remember playing Honeycomb (amnog others) over and over and over again. It must have drove my parents up the wall.....
Amazing to think that a song about a doggie in the window, was a smash hit.
Cute "doggie" and great memories...I remember that song very well, as well as Honeycomb!
I remember hearing all of those songs when I was a young girl. Fun picture and post, Beatrice. :)
i'll be humming this for the rest of the evening
My favorite of Patti Page's songs was "Old Cape Cod!" The harmonies were such tight chords! So mellow! She did it beautifully!
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