Ersel Hickey

Ersel Hickey (June 27 1934 in Brighton, New York - July 12, 2004 in New York City) was a rockabilly singer best known for "Bluebirds over the Mountain."

Early life

His mother was from Kingston, Ontario; his father, who was Irish (O'Hickey was the original name), passed away when Hickey was four. He was one of eight children. His mother had a nervous breakdown and was put into a mental hospital, while he was put into foster homes. He would frequently run away, living in different parts of New York State.

When Hickey was 15, he started traveling with his sister "Chicky Evans", an exotic dancer. She was very popular in the circuits and together they traveled for about a year. He decided to go on his own and travel with the carnival, then left and then began living in Columbus, Ohio. From there he was sent to a "tough kids" home, where he became familiar with the main rhythm & blues groups and started singing with the gospel group there.

Career

In 1954 Hickey heard Elvis Presley's "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" and became a devoted fan of rock and roll. He was playing a few places in Rochester that his brother booked him in; he was drawing very well. It was around this time that he made his first record on Fine Records. One side was "Then I'll Be Happy", an old song, and the other side was called "Baby You're No Good" a song he had written. The single was released locally, but not much happened with it.

He also wrote songs for other artists, including "The Millionaire" for Jackie Wilson and "A Little Bird Told Me So" for LaVern Baker.

Ersel Hickey's contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Death

According to his publicist, Hickey died after surgery to remove his bladder in July 2004 at New York Medical Center, and had no survivors. He was 70 years old.

Discography

1955FINE RECORDSThen I'll Be Happy/Baby You're No Good

1958EPIC RECORDS 2203 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around (Cnd)9263 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around9278 Lover's Land/Goin' Down That RoadEG 7206 "Ersel Hickey In Lover's Land"Lover's Land/Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Goin' Down That Road/Hangin' Around9296 The Wedding/You Never Can Tell

19599309 You Threw A Dart/Don't Be Afraid Of Love9320 I Can't Love Another/People Gotta Talk9357 Love In Bloom/What Do You Want (Picture Sleeve)

19609395 Stardust Brought Me You/Another Wasted Day

1961KAPP RECORDS372 Teardrops At Dawn/I Guess You Could Call It Love406 Lips Of Rose/What Have You Done To Me

1962APOLLO RECORDS761 The Millionaire/Upside Down Love

1963LAURIE RECORDS3165 Some Enchanted Evening/Put Your Mind At Ease

1967TOOT RECORDS602 Blue Skies/Tryin' To Get To You

1968607 (Play On) Strings Of Gitarro/There Is Just One Time

1970JANUS RECORDS151 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Self Made Man

1971BLACK CIRCLE RECORDS845 Oh, Lord Look What They've Done To Your Garden/Slidin' Home

1972UNIFAX RECORDS100 How Unlucky Can You Get/Put It To Your Heart

1975RAMESES III RECORDS2003 Waitin' For Baby/In Spite Of The Fool That I Am

1982 PARKWAY RECORDSLet Me Be Your Radio/?

1984MAGNUM RECORDSCountry Tough/?

BLUEBIRDS OVER THE MOUNTAIN (KAPP KM2601) KM on the sleeve, KR on the label Going Down That Road/Love In Bloom/Wedding Day/You Threw A Dart/You Never Can Tell/Don't Be Afraid Of Love/I Guess You Could Call It Love/What Do You Want//Hanging Around/Another Wasted Day/Stardust Brought Me You/Blue Birds Over The Mountain/Lover's Land/Teardrops At Dawn/Self Made Man/Blue Birds Over The Mountain

1985BACK-TRAC RECORDS18750 "The Rockin' Bluebird"Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around/You Never Can Tell/Lover's Land/Goin' Down That Road/Love In Bloom/Shame On Me/What Do You Want?/Stardust Brought Me You/Don't Be Afraid Of Love

*"Bluebirds Over the Mountains"Bear Family Records - BCD 15676 Bluebirds Over The Mountain (US Version)/Hangin' Around/You Never Can Tell/The Wedding/Lover's Land/Goin' Down That Road/Love In Bloom/Another Wasted Day/You Threw A Dart/Shame On Me/What Do You Want?/Stardust Brought Me You (2)/Due Time (Incomplete)/A Mighty Square Love Affair/Teardrops At Dawn/Magical Love/I Guess You Could Call It Love/Lips Of Roses/What Have You Done To Me?/Stardust Brought Me You (1)/Roll On Little River (Unknown)/Don't Be Afraid Of Love/People Gotta Talk/I Can't Love Another/Bluebirds Over The Mountain (CAN Version)

*"Rockin Bluebird"Collectables Records - COL 6479RELEASE DATE: 01/16/2001Tracks: Bluebirds Over The Mountain, Hangin' Around, Goin' Down That Road, Lover's Land, You Never Can Tell, Wedding Day, Don't Be Afraid Of Love, You Threw A Dart, People Gotta Talk, I Can't Love Another, What Do You Want?, Love In Bloom, Stardust Brought Me You, Another Wasted Day, Shame On Me, Some Enchanted Evening, Put Your Mind At Ease, Rockabilly Dream, In Spite Of The Fool That

External links

* [http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ErselHickey.html Rockabilly Hall of Fame profile on Ersel Hickey]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifuxq9hldhe~T1 All Music Guide]