Year: 1957-1960 (CD 1993)
Label: Bear Family Records (Germany), BCD 15676 AH
Style: Oldies, Rock & Roll
Country: Brighton, New York, U.S. (June 27, 1934 - July 9, 2004)
Time: 50:42
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 268 Mb
Ersel Hickey (born Ersel O'Hickey, June 27, 1934 – July 9, 2004) was an American rockabilly singer best known for his hit song "Bluebirds over the Mountain".
Hickey was born in Brighton, New York, and was named after the family doctor, Dr. Ersel. His mother was from Kingston, Ontario; his father, who was Irish, died when Hickey was four. He was one of eight children. One brother's name was Allen and another brother's name was William. 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 carnival 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 and blues groups and started singing with the gospel group there.
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, New York 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; the other side was "Baby You're No Good", a song he had written. The single was released locally, but not much happened with it.
While visiting Rochester in 1957, Phil Everly told Hickey he should write his own material. That night Hickey wrote "Bluebirds Over the Mountain", which he subsequently recorded and charted at No. 75 in the United States. The song was later recorded by Ritchie Valens in 1958 and was a top 100 hit for The Beach Boys in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1968.
Hickey also wrote songs for other artists, including "The Millionaire" for Jackie Wilson, "A Little Bird Told Me So" for LaVern Baker, and "Don't Let the Rain Come Down", which was a US top ten hit for the Serendipity Singers.
Hickey's contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In 1957, Hickey was staying with his aunt in Buffalo, New York when he arranged to have publicity pictures taken at a local photography studio, Gene Laverne's Studio of the Stars. The pose—Hickey with his knees bent and pointing his guitar like a machine gun—was the idea of Laverne, an exotic dancer and female impersonator. The photograph appeared in 1976 on the opening page of The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll.
Hickey died at age 70 in July 2004 after surgery to remove his gallbladder at New York University Medical Center.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ersel_Hickey)
01. Bluebirds Over the Mountain (Us Version) 1957 (01:29)
02. Hangin' Around 1957 (02:23)
03. You Niver Can Tell 1958 (01:57)
04. The Wedding 1958 (01:32)
05. Lover's Land 1958 (01:36)
06. Goin' Down That Road 1958 (01:51)
07. Love in Bloom 1960 (02:36)
08. Another Wasted Day 1960 (02:12)
09. You Threw a Dart 1959 (02:10)
10. Shame on Me 1985 (02:10)
11. What Do You Want? 1960 (01:48)
12. Stardust Brought Me You (2) 1960 (02:14)
13. Due Time (Incomplete) 1993 (00:55)
14. A Mighty Square Love Affair 1960 (02:07)
15. Teardrops At Dawn 1960 (02:33)
16. Magical Love 1960 (01:56)
17. I Guess You Could Call It Love 1960 (02:06)
18. Lips of Roses 1960 (01:57)
19. What Have You Done to Me? 1960 (02:30)
20. Stardust Brought Me You (1) 1993 (01:51)
21. Roll on Little River (Unknown) 1993 (02:41)
22. Don't Be Afraid of Love 1959 (02:23)
23. People Gotta Talk 1959 (02:04)
24. I Can't Love Another 1959 (01:57)
25. Bluebirds Over the Mountain (Can Version) 1957 (01:33)
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