Ersel Hickey
Encyclopedia
Ersel Hickey born in Brighton, New York was a rockabilly
singer best known for his hit song "Bluebirds over the Mountain
".
; his father, who was Irish
, died 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 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.
'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 #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 July 2004 at New York Medical Center. He was 70 years old.
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.
FINE RECORDS
Then I'll Be Happy/Baby You're No Good
1958
EPIC RECORDS 2203 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around (Cnd)
9263 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around
9278 Lover's Land/Goin' Down That Road
EG 7206 "Ersel Hickey In Lover's Land"
Lover's Land/Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Goin' Down That Road/Hangin' Around
9296 The Wedding/You Never Can Tell
1959
9309 You Threw A Dart/Don't Be Afraid Of Love
9320 I Can't Love Another/People Gotta Talk
9357 Love In Bloom/What Do You Want (Picture Sleeve)
1960
9395 Stardust Brought Me You/Another Wasted Day
1961
KAPP RECORDS
372 Teardrops At Dawn/I Guess You Could Call It Love
406 Lips Of Rose/What Have You Done To Me
1962
APOLLO RECORDS
761 The Millionaire/Upside Down Love
1963
LAURIE RECORDS
3165 Some Enchanted Evening/Put Your Mind At Ease
1967
TOOT RECORDS
602 Blue Skies/Tryin' To Get To You
1968
607 (Play On) Strings Of Gitarro/There Is Just One Time
1970
JANUS RECORDS
151 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Self Made Man
1971
BLACK CIRCLE RECORDS
845 Oh, Lord Look What They've Done To Your Garden/Slidin' Home
1972
UNIFAX RECORDS
100 How Unlucky Can You Get/Put It To Your Heart
1975
RAMESES III RECORDS
2003 Waitin' For Baby/In Spite Of The Fool That I Am
1982 PARKWAY RECORDS
Let Me Be Your Radio/?
1984
MAGNUM RECORDS
Country 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
1985
BACK-TRAC RECORDS
18750 "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
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)
Collectables Records - COL 6479
RELEASE DATE: 01/16/2001
Tracks: 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
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
singer best known for his hit song "Bluebirds over the Mountain
Bluebirds over the Mountain
"Bluebirds over the Mountain" is a song written by Ersel Hickey. This is perhaps his best known song. The song was covered by notable artists such as The Beach Boys and Ritchie Valens...
".
Early life
He was born Ersel O'Hickey, named after the family doctor, Dr. Ersel. His mother was from Kingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
; his father, who was Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, died when Hickey was four. He was one of eight children. His mother had a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
and was put into a mental hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, 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
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. From there he was sent to a "tough kids" home, where he became familiar with the main rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
groups and started singing with the gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
group there.
Career
In 1954, Hickey heard Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine
I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine
"I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" is a popular song, written by Mack David.The most popular version was done by Patti Page in 1950. The Page recording was issued by Mercury Records as catalog number 5396, and first reached the Billboard chart on May 20, 1950, lasting 9 weeks and peaking at #8...
" and became a devoted fan of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. He was playing a few places in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
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
Bluebirds over the Mountain
"Bluebirds over the Mountain" is a song written by Ersel Hickey. This is perhaps his best known song. The song was covered by notable artists such as The Beach Boys and Ritchie Valens...
", which he subsequently recorded and charted at #75 in the United States. The song was later recorded by Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
in 1958 and was a top 100 hit for The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1968.
Hickey also wrote songs for other artists, including "The Millionaire" for Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, "A Little Bird Told Me So" for LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" , "Jim Dandy" , and "I Cried a Tear" .-Early life:She was born Delores LaVern Baker in Chicago, Illinois...
, 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
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
.
Death
According to his publicist, Hickey died after surgery to remove his bladderBladder
Bladder usually refers to an anatomical hollow organBladder may also refer to:-Biology:* Urinary bladder in humans** Urinary bladder ** Bladder control; see Urinary incontinence** Artificial urinary bladder, in humans...
in July 2004 at New York Medical Center. He was 70 years old.
Publicity Photograph
In 1957 Hickey was staying with his aunt in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
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.
Discography
1955FINE RECORDS
Then I'll Be Happy/Baby You're No Good
1958
EPIC RECORDS 2203 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around (Cnd)
9263 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Hangin' Around
9278 Lover's Land/Goin' Down That Road
EG 7206 "Ersel Hickey In Lover's Land"
Lover's Land/Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Goin' Down That Road/Hangin' Around
9296 The Wedding/You Never Can Tell
1959
9309 You Threw A Dart/Don't Be Afraid Of Love
9320 I Can't Love Another/People Gotta Talk
9357 Love In Bloom/What Do You Want (Picture Sleeve)
1960
9395 Stardust Brought Me You/Another Wasted Day
1961
KAPP RECORDS
372 Teardrops At Dawn/I Guess You Could Call It Love
406 Lips Of Rose/What Have You Done To Me
1962
APOLLO RECORDS
761 The Millionaire/Upside Down Love
1963
LAURIE RECORDS
3165 Some Enchanted Evening/Put Your Mind At Ease
1967
TOOT RECORDS
602 Blue Skies/Tryin' To Get To You
1968
607 (Play On) Strings Of Gitarro/There Is Just One Time
1970
JANUS RECORDS
151 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Self Made Man
1971
BLACK CIRCLE RECORDS
845 Oh, Lord Look What They've Done To Your Garden/Slidin' Home
1972
UNIFAX RECORDS
100 How Unlucky Can You Get/Put It To Your Heart
1975
RAMESES III RECORDS
2003 Waitin' For Baby/In Spite Of The Fool That I Am
1982 PARKWAY RECORDS
Let Me Be Your Radio/?
1984
MAGNUM RECORDS
Country 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
1985
BACK-TRAC RECORDS
18750 "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 6479
RELEASE DATE: 01/16/2001
Tracks: 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
