Nervous Norvus
Jimmy Drake | |
---|---|
Born | March 24, 1912 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | July 24, 1968 (aged 56) |
Occupation | Musician |
Jimmy Drake (known as Nervous Norvus) (March 24, 1912 – July 24, 1968) was an American musician. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived for a few years in Ripley, Tennessee, near the Arkansas border. Because of his chronic asthma condition, his family moved to California when he was seven, eventually settling in the East Hollywood, Los Angeles. When he was 29, he moved to Oakland, California, where he would live for the rest of his life.[1]
His novelty song "Transfusion" was a Top 20 hit in 1956, reaching #13 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.[2][3] A second song, "Ape Call," released later that year, also charted and peaked at #28.[4][5][6]
The lyrics in "Transfusion" concern a careless driver who receives blood transfusions after each accident. The song was banned on many radio stations in the 1950s.[5] The song was later played on the radio by Barry Hansen, which reportedly led to Hansen's eventual nickname of Dr. Demento.
After a brief solo career, which amounted to less than six months, he concentrated on his demo service, providing music for other artists. He charged around seven dollars to make these demos, some of which led to publishing contracts for the songwriters.
Drake died at the age of 56 in Alameda County, California of cirrhosis of the liver. His body was donated to the University of California, San Francisco Anatomy Department.
References
- ^ Phil Milstein (2005). "The Many Mysteries of Nervous Norvus". Songpoemmusic.com. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 23, 1956. Retrieved December 22, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ ""Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus 1956". Song-database.com. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ ""Ape Call" by Nervous Norvus 1956". Song-database.com. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ a b Talevski, Nick. (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 461. ISBN 1846090911.
- ^ Palmer, Robert (1985-08-21). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
External links
- "Spectropop Reviews 2004". Spectropop.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- "Nervous Norvus — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm". Last.fm. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- "LCD 19 - Nervous Norvus". Wfmu.org. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- "Transfusion lyrics - NERVOUS NORVUS". Oldielyrics.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- "Nervous Norvus". YouTube. March 7, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- 1912 births
- 1968 deaths
- American comedy musicians
- American male singers
- Outsider musicians
- Dot Records artists
- Deaths from cirrhosis
- 20th-century American singers
- People from Memphis, Tennessee
- People from Ripley, Tennessee
- People from Los Angeles
- People from Oakland, California
- Comedians from California
- 20th-century American comedians
- 20th-century male singers