Shirley Ellis

I recently put together that Shirley Ellis is the artist that established my musical taste.
I remember my grandfather mumbling "max-max-bo-bax-banana-fana-fo..." and begging him to teach me whatever song he was singing. My grandfathers name was Chuck and mine, Maggie. "It's usually best to skip over the F" he warned "nothing good would come of it." and yes, once my brother discovered the Name Game, I was due for years of teasing. My Grandpa Chuck, on the other hand, was met with an explosion of laughter. Any way, the name game set the tone for my childhood fun and forced me into a mild OBSESSION with doo-wop, soul music, and the mashed potato, at a very young age.

Shirley Ellis, you were a musical angel and teacher. The Name Game is the most accessible and timeless song I can remember, not to mention The Clapping Song oh my god...