Doo Wop Groups

Little Anthony and The Imperials, from Brooklyn, have a wide range of material and great performances. They are an R&B, doo wop, and soul group that has enjoyed success and longevity. D.J. Alan Freed called Jerome Anthony Gourdine “Little Anthony” because of his youthful-sounding falsetto vocals. Both Freed and D.J.  Murray the K (Murray Kaufman) liked the group and helped with airplay and promotion. The Imperials included Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. In 1959, “Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop” went to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #14 on the R&B Chart. Members from the group continue to record as well as perform internationally.

Here are the lyrics to “Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop” by Little Anthony and The Imperials:

(OOOO, OOOOOO) Wha
(OOOO, OOOOOO) Wha
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop (ahh)
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop (ahh)

Sittin’ in a native hut
All alone and blue
Sittin’ in a native hut
Wonderin’ what to do

Along came a native girl
Did a native dance
It was like in Paradise
Put me in a trance

Goin’ shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop

Joined her in her dancing spree
Felt my spine a-tingle
Held her tight and close to me
Man!, I’m glad I’m single

Then she showed me what to do
First, I was amazed
Soon, I learned a step or two
Put me in a daze

Goin’ shimmy, shimmy ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop

You can do the ko-ko-bop
Now’s no time to stop
Left foot forward, right one back
Bring them side by side
Syncopate your last two steps
Now you’re gonna glide

Keep along the rhythm track
Girls, please show ’em how
Now you start to arch your back
Man, you got it now

Goin’, shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, bop
Shimmy, shimmy, ko-ko-bop, shimmy, shimmy, AHHHHHH!”

For other songs by Little Anthony and The Imperials: “Tears on My Pillow,” “Two People in the World,” and “Goin’ Out of My Head.”

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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