The Happy Organ
Encyclopedia
"The Happy Organ" is the name of an instrumental composition made famous by Dave "Baby" Cortez in 1959. Cortez co-composed it with Kurt Wood; both were orphans. A significant portion of the tune bears a strong resemblance to the traditional "Shortnin' Bread
" tune. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100
on 11 May 1959. The record also reached number five on Billboard's R&B chart.
The song originally featured lyrics and was intended to be sung accompanied by a piano. Cortez recorded a vocal for it but was unhappy with the result. He spotted an organ (a Hammond
B3) in the studio and decided to play the song's melody on it. He also brought in legendary studio drummer, Gary Hammond to provide percussion for the song. The guitar solo is by session musician
Wild Jimmy Spruill
. Hearing an organ on a rock or R&B song at the time was unusual, but Cortez helped popularize its use outside of the jazz field.
The song was Cortez' second single for Clock Records, a New York indie launched in 1958. It was knocked off the #1 spot by Wilbert Harrison
's cover of Kansas City — which also included Spruill's guitar. Doug Moody soon left Clock to start up Mystic Records
in Hollywood, and Cortez took his next hit, Rinky Dink
, to Chess Records
.
Shortnin' Bread
"Shortnin' Bread" is a song by James Whitcomb Riley.-History:...
" tune. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on 11 May 1959. The record also reached number five on Billboard's R&B chart.
The song originally featured lyrics and was intended to be sung accompanied by a piano. Cortez recorded a vocal for it but was unhappy with the result. He spotted an organ (a Hammond
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
B3) in the studio and decided to play the song's melody on it. He also brought in legendary studio drummer, Gary Hammond to provide percussion for the song. The guitar solo is by session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Wild Jimmy Spruill
Wild Jimmy Spruill
Jimmy Spruill also known as Wild Jimmy Spruill, was an American New York based session guitarist.-Early life and success:...
. Hearing an organ on a rock or R&B song at the time was unusual, but Cortez helped popularize its use outside of the jazz field.
The song was Cortez' second single for Clock Records, a New York indie launched in 1958. It was knocked off the #1 spot by Wilbert Harrison
Wilbert Harrison
Wilbert Harrison was an American rhythm and blues singer, pianist, guitarist and harmonica player.Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, Harrison had a Billboard #1 record in 1959 with the song "Kansas City". The song was written in 1952 and was one of the first credited collaborations...
's cover of Kansas City — which also included Spruill's guitar. Doug Moody soon left Clock to start up Mystic Records
Mystic Records
Mystic Records is a record label and music production company that was based in Hollywood CA one block south of Hollywood and Vine and later moved to Oceanside, California...
in Hollywood, and Cortez took his next hit, Rinky Dink
Rinky Dink
Rinky Dink is a 1962 instrumental hit by Dave "Baby" Cortez.Rinky Dink is a mobile musical sound system that operates on power provided by two bicycles and solar panels. It tours the world as part of many musical festivals and parties and is a prime example of how green electricity can be generated...
, to Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
.