Pop Music

Among some of the favorite golden oldies are the songs of the handsome Brian Hyland. His music is said to have defined the “puppy-love” bubble-gum sound of the early 1960s.

Hyland came from Woodhaven in Queens, New York. As a child he loved music; he played the clarinet and guitar and sang in the local church choir. At 14, he started a doo-wop group called the DelFis. Although the group wasn’t a success, Brian had a taste of the recording studio while working on their demo and loved it. He worked at recording and eventually got good enough to be signed by Kapp Records.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, Hyland had a monster hit at 16 with “Itsy Bitsy Tennie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” which was written by Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance (“Catch a Falling Star” and “Johnny Angel”). This novelty record soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #8 in the U.K., and #2 in Australia. It sold a then unheard-of million copies in a month and eventually more than two million total copies, which earned it an RIAA gold record.

And then there was “Sealed with a Kiss”…

In 1962, Hyland, who often performed songs by Peter Udell and Gary Geld, heard their song “Sealed With A Kiss.” The record had previously been released in England by a group called The Four Voices and was a flop. Hyland suggested if they picked up the beat, it would be better. He recorded it, and it reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 in the U.K., and #22 in Australia.

Hyland has recorded and performed throughout the decades. In our doo-wop era, he was on American Bandstand and The Jackie Gleason Show. He also toured with Dick Clark in the Caravan of Stars. Hyland continues to perform live internationally, often with his son Bodi on drums.

The lyrics to “Sealed with a Kiss” by Brian Hyland create a sad mood:

‘Though we gotta say goodbye, for the summer
Baby I promise you this
I’ll send you all my love every day in a letter Sealed with a kiss
Yes it’s gonna be a cold, lonely summer
But I’ll fill the emptiness
I’ll send you all my dreams every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
I’ll see you in the sunlight
I’ll hear your voice everywhere
I’ll run to tenderly hold you
But baby you won’t be there
I don’t want to say goodbye, for the summer
Knowing the love we’ll miss
So let us make a pledge to meet in September
And seal it with a kiss
Yes it’s gonna be a cold lonely summer
But I’ll fill the emptiness
I’ll send you all my love every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
Sealed with a kiss
Sealed with a kiss
Sealed with a kiss

For More Golden Oldies Music                                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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