Johnny Thunder (singer)
Johnny Thunder | |
|---|---|
 Thunder in 1962. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gil Hamilton |
| Born | August 15, 1932 Leesburg, Florida |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | vocals |
| Years active | Late 1950s – current |
| Labels | Diamond, Capitol, Vee Jay, Calla, Stateside |
| Website | http://www.johnnythunder.com/ |
Johnny Thunder is the professional stage name of Gil Hamilton (born August 15, 1932).[1] He is an American R&B and pop singer, whose biggest hit was "Loop De Loop" in 1963.
Life and career
Gil Hamilton was born in Leesburg, Florida, and started singing in church and on street corners when in his teens. Aiming to start a singing career in the late 1950s, he moved to New York City, where he joined a touring version of The Drifters for a few months,[2][3] and also sang in an Apollo Theater production, A Blind Man Sings the Blues.[1][4] He also recorded as a backing singer for Dionne Warwick and others, and, as Gil Hamilton, recorded several singles for various small labels. One of his singles recorded in 1962, "Tell Her", written by Bert Berns under the pseudonym Bert Russell, and produced by Berns, was the original version of "Tell Him" which later became an international hit for The Exciters (and in the UK for Billie Davis).[2][5] Hamilton's 1962 Vee Jay single "Move & Groove" was the original version of Johnny O'Keefe's 1963 Australian hit "Move Baby Move.[6]
In 1963, Thunder linked up with songwriter and record producer Teddy Vann, who persuaded him to record a novelty version of the traditional children's nursery song "Loop de Loop" (also known as "Looby Lou"), using the name "Johnny Thunder".[2][7] Vann also advised him to appeal more to the teenage market by claiming he was born in 1941 rather than his actual birth year of 1932.[1] The record, released on the Diamond label, became a big hit, rising to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1963; it was covered by Frankie Vaughan in the UK. Johnny Thunder released an album, Loop De Loop, and several follow-up singles, of which "Everybody Do The Sloopy" was the most successful, reaching no. 67 in late 1965.[2][3][8] In 1967, he had another minor hit as part of a duo with Ruby Winters on "Make Love To Me".[8]
In 1969, Thunder released his first single for Calla Records,[9] the "raucous" rock song "I'm Alive", featuring "Verbal Expressions of T.V." as its B-side.[10] Bob Dylan, who had heard "I'm Alive" on the radio, was asked by Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner that year if he was impressed by anything in the rock music scene and pointed to the song: "Never heard it either, huh? Well, I can't believe it. Everyone I've talked to, I've asked them if they've heard that record. It was one of the most powerful records I've ever heard. It's called 'I'm Alive.' By Johnny Thunder. Well, it was that sentiment, truly expressed. That's the most I can say ... if you heard the record, you'd know what I mean."[11]
Since the 1960s, Thunder has continued to tour internationally, and has regularly appeared on luxury cruise ships in the Caribbean and elsewhere.[1][3][4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Bill Herald. "At 79, Johnny Thunder still active decades after 'Loop De Loop' hit". Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d Andrew Hamilton. "Johnny Thunder". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ a b c Gary James. "Gary James' Interview With Johnny Thunder". Classic Bands.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ a b Gina Busby (website). "The Fabulous Johnny Thunder - Biography". Johnny Thunder Music. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Tell Her" at SecondhandSongs
- ^ Johnny O'Keefe - Move Baby Move: song history at Where Did They Get That Song?, retrieved August 11, 2012
- ^ Looby Lou at Folklorist
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 712. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ Ochs, Ed (April 19, 1969). "Soul Sauce". Billboard: 42.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles". Billboard: 70. March 15, 1969.
- ^ Wenner, Jann S. (November 29, 1969). "Bob Dylan: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone.
External links
- Johnny Thunder discography at Discogs