- Jerry Keller
-
Jerry Keller Birth name Jerry Paul Keller Born June 20, 1937
Fort Smith, Arkansas, United StatesGenres Easy listening
Traditional popular musicOccupations Singer Instruments Vocals Years active 1956–present Labels Kapp (U.S.)
London (UK)Jerry Keller (born Jerry Paul Keller, June 20, 1937, Fort Smith, Arkansas[1]) is an American pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for his 1959 million selling record, "Here Comes Summer."[2]
Contents
Career
Born in Arkansas, Keller's family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma when he was aged six,[2] and Keller attended Tulsa's Will Rogers High School, graduating in 1955. He was known as a vocal soloist in various school productions, and was often invited to do guest vocals with top bands touring the area. He formed 'The Lads of Note' quartet in his teens, joined the Tulsa Boy Singers and toured the Midwest.[2] Keller was educated at the University of Tulsa. He moved to New York in 1956, and Pat Boone who attended the same church as Keller, sent him to see Marty Mills who became Keller's manager.[2]
Keller's biggest self-penned hit was 1959's "Here Comes Summer." It climbed to #14 in the Billboard Hot 100. The record reached number one in the UK the same year,[3] but lack of further chart appearances branded Keller as a one hit wonder. "Here Comes Summer" ironically reached the number one spot in the UK in the Autumn of 1959.[4]
He also co-wrote the song "A Man and a Woman", which was recorded by such artists as Matt Monro, Ella Fitzgerald, Engelbert Humperdinck, Johnny Mathis and José Feliciano.[5] In addition he co-penned "Almost There", a successful single for Andy Williams, plus "How Does It Go?" recorded in 1965 by Ricky Nelson.
In the film arena, Keller wrote soundtrack music for I Saw What You Did (1965). The Legend of Sheandoah recited by James Stewart in Shenandoah (1965) and Angel in My Pocket (1969).
Keller went on to be a number one call vocalist for television jingles throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also had cameo role as the orchestra music director in the 1977 film You Light Up My Life.[4]
See also
- List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States
- One-hit wonders in the United Kingdom
- List of number-one singles from the 1950s (UK)
- UK No.1 Hits of 1959
References
- ^ Allmusic.com - accessed May 2009
- ^ a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 115. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 298. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b Oldies.com - accessed May 2009
- ^ Allmusic.com
External links
Categories:- 1937 births
- Living people
- American male singers
- Songwriters from Arkansas
- People from Fort Smith, Arkansas
- Musicians from Arkansas
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
