Lollipop (1958 song)

The song originated when Julius Dixson was late for a songwriting session with Beverly Ross. He explained that his daughter had gotten a lollipop stuck in her hair, and that had caused him to be late. Ross was so inspired by the word "lollipop" that she sat down at the piano and produced a version of the song on the spot. Beverly Ross recorded a demo with Ronald Gumm (or Gumps), a 13-year-old neighbor of Dixson, under the name Ronald & Ruby. Ross's mother insisted that she use a pseudonym for safety reasons, because they were an interracial duo.[2]

RCA got hold of it and Dixson, who owned the master and had produced the demo, agreed to let them release it. Ronald and Ruby's version rose up the chart, reaching #20.[1]

"Lollipop" was then covered in the United States by female vocal quartet The Chordettes, whose version reached #2 and #3 on the Billboard pop and R&B charts, respectively.[3] The song became a worldwide hit. The Chordettes' version reached #6 in the UK, where there was also a cover version by The Mudlarks which made #2. Both the Chordettes' and the Mudlarks version feature an isolated popping sound. The Chordettes' version featured the sounds of rhythmic hand claps, heard at the beginning and the ending of the song. their version featured a male chorus singing the "Boom Booms", following the isolated popping sounds. Another version of the song was recorded by Bobby Vee in 1961.

The Argentine band Viuda e hijas de Roque Enroll had a hit in the mid-1980s using interpolations of the two most popular "Lollipop" songs: the Dixson and Ross version, and "My Boy Lollipop". Samples of the original Ronald and Ruby version were also used.

The song has been recorded by many other musicians.[4]

• List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States