Gayla Peevey

Gayla Peevey Henderson (born March 8, 1943) is a former singer and child star from Ponca City, Oklahoma. She is best known for her recording, under her maiden name Gayla Peevey, of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (Columbia 4-40106, 1953). Peevey recorded the novelty song when she was 10 years old.

In 1959, she had a minor hit with the song "Robot Man", recorded under the name Jamie Horton. The song was covered by Connie Francis.

Biography

Peevey graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Education degree. She eventually left teaching and owned her own advertising firm for 15 years. She is married to Cliff Henderson. They have a daughter, Sydney Forest, and three grandchildren.

Gayla Peevey in popular culture

The Oklahoma City Zoo capitalized upon the popularity of "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas" with a fundraising campaign to "buy a hippo for Gayla". The fund raised $3,000, and a baby hippopotamus named Matilda was purchased and given to Peevey which she then donated to the zoo.

Song/Singles list

All on Columbia records.

• "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (John Rox) — With the Norman Leyden orchestra

"Are My Ears on Straight" (John Rox) (B-side) - with the Norman Leyden orchestra

• "Three Little Bunnies" (Al Hoffman / Dick Manning) — with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Columbia) (1953)

"I Wish I Wuz A Whisker (On The Easter Bunny’s Chin)" (B-side)

• "Upsy Down Town" (1954)

"A Dog Named Joe" (B-side)

• "Kitty in a Basket" (Bob Merrill) — Duet with Jimmy Boyd (1954)

"I'm So Glad (I'm a Little Boy and You're a Little Girl)" — Duet with Jimmy Boyd (B-side)

• "Angel in the Christmas Play" (Bob Merrill)(1954)

"Got a Cold in the Node For Christmas" (Bob Merrill) (B-side)

• "Daddy's Report Card" (1955)

"The Night I Ran Away" (B-side)

• "77 Santas" (AKA "Seventy Seven Santas") (1955)

"Rubber Legs (The Knock-Kneed Monkey)" — with Paul Weston (B-side)

• "Too Young to Have a Broken Heart" (1957)

"I Want You to Be My Guy" (B-side)

• "That's What I Learned in School" (1957)

"Do it Again" (B-side)

Singles recorded as Jamie Horton

All released on the Joy Records label.

• "My Little Marine" (J. Horton/E. Warren) (Joy 234, 1959)

"Missin'" (B-side)

• "Where's My Love?" (Joy 237, 1960)

"Heartbreakin' Doll" (B-side)

• "Just So So" (Joy 240, 1960)

"There Goes My Love" (B-side)

• "Robot Man" (Sylvia Dee/George Goehring) (Joy 241, 1960)

"We're Through - We're Finished" (B-side) (J. Horton)

• "What Should a Teen Heart Do" (Joy 245, 1960)

"Hands Off, He's Mine" (B-side)

• "When It Comes to Love" (J. Horton) - Arranged by H. B. Barnum (Joy 252, 1961)

"Yes, I'll Be Your Girl" (J. Horton) - Arranged by H. B. Barnum (B-side)

• "Going, Going, Going Gone" (Rose Marie McCoy) - Arranged and conducted by Mort Garson (Joy 258, 1961)

"They're Playing Our Song" (contains elements of "16 Candles") (Ross/Luther Dixon/Allyson Khent) - Arranged and conducted by Mort Garson (B-side)

• "Dear Jane" (Joy 266, 1962)

"Only Forever" (B-side)

• "Go Shout It From a Mountain" (S. Turner/Jack Nitzsche) - Arranged and conducted by Jack Nitzsche (Joy 269, 1962)

"Oh Love (Stop Knockin' On My Door)" (B-side)

External links

• Gayla Peevey at the Internet Movie Database
• List of singles from Joy Records