The Rivingtons were a 1960s doo-wop band, known for their 1962 novelty hit "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The members were lead vocalist Carl White (June 21, 1932 – January 7, 1980), tenor Al Frazier (died November 13, 2005), baritone Sonny Harris and bass Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr. Frazier was replaced by Madero White for a period in the late 1970s.
History
The Rivingtons had originally been known as The Sharps and had success in the charts with Thurston Harris's "Little Bitty Pretty One" in 1957. They then appeared on Duane Eddy's 1958 hit "Rebel-'Rouser", providing handclaps and rebel yells. The Rivingtons' manager reported it to their lawyers, and the Trashmen were ordered to add the surnames of the Rivingtons to the credits. Because of the publicity in Billboard, the Trashmen had to share the writing credits on the recording and on a later version as a sign of good faith. "Surfin' Bird" itself was revived in the late 1970s by The Ramones and The Cramps.
The Rivingtons recorded several more songs in the 1960s, but their recording career ended after the Columbia single "A Rose Growing in the Ruins" failed to sell. They began performing live again in the 1970s, with Madero White replacing Al Frazier. then Andrew Butler into the 1990s. In 1989, the Rivingtons appeared in an episode of L.A. Law as a doo-wop group, "The Sensations". They were later featured in a 1990 episode of Night Court, "Razing Bull", as Mac's former group-mates "The Starlites".
Discography
The Rivingtons released a number of records on the Liberty label, including:
Singles
- "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" b/w "Deep Water" (#48 US)
- "Kickapoo Joy Juice" b/w "My Reward"
- "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Bird)" b/w "Waiting" (#106 US)
- "The Bird's the Word" b/w "I'm Losing My Grip" (#52 US, #27 R&B)
- "The Shaky Bird (Part 1)" b/w "The Shaky Bird (Part 2)"
- "Cherry" b/w "Little Sally Walker"
- "The Weejee Walk" b/w "Fairy Tales"
Albums
- Doin' the Bird (1962)
Compilation albums
These songs are all collected on The Liberty Years, released on EMI America.