Dominick the Donkey

Dominick the Donkey is a Christmas song written by Richard Allen, Sam Saltzberg and Lou Monte, first sung by Monte in 1960.^{[citation needed]} The song describes a donkey who helps Santa Claus bring presents to children in Italy.

The song was listed at number 14 in Billboard's "Bubbling under the Hot 100" list in December 1960.^[1] The song received little airplay at the time due to the perception of its novelty^{[citation needed]} and some Italian lyrics, but was quite popular in Italian-American households.^{[citation needed]}

It was included on Volume 2 of the Ultimate Christmas Album series produced by Collectables Records.^[2]

The fact that Santa Claus owns a donkey is later referenced in the 1977 television special Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. In that special, the donkey's name is "Spieltote," who also serves as the narrator.

Since 1986, members of the Gamma Psi chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon have boisterously played the song over speakers that can be heard neighborhood-wide starting after Thanksgiving and continuing through the New Year.^{[citation needed]} This has led to recognition from the Butler Collegian newspaper, local top 40 station 99.5 WZPL, station KDND 107.9 in Sacramento, CA (sung by The Wake Up Call; Jason, Katie and Gavin), and the Indianapolis Star.^{[citation needed]}

The song has also been used extensively on The Chris Moyles Show in reference to Newsbeat newsreader and regular show contributor Dominic Byrne around the Christmas period.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ Billboard, 26 December 1960, page 33.
2. ^ [1]

External links

• 'Dominick' a favorite of New York radio UPI
• Dominick the Donkey lyrics