I'll always remember Ersel Hickey because the jaunty pic above appeared on the opening page of my 1976 edition of The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll, still one of my favorite resources for pre-'70s rock history.
Why they picked Ersel for the opening shot, I don't know, I guess it's something of a classic shot, but now Ersel is gone:
- Ersel Hickey, a rockabilly singer best known for "Bluebirds Over The Mountain," has died at age 70, according to a longtime friend.
Hickey had been hospitalized at NYU Medical Center after surgery to have his bladder removed because of a tumor, according to Johnny Vallis, a friend and sometime publicist for the singer. He died after coming down with an infection, Vallis said.
Hickey, a native of Brighton, N.Y., started singing in his teens, as a solo act and also with R&B groups. His first record, released in the late 1950s, was "Then I'll Be Happy/Baby You're No Good." But he is best known for his 1958 hit "Bluebirds Over The Mountain," which he also co-wrote. It was re-recorded by The Beach Boys a decade later.
He also wrote songs for other artists, including Jackie Wilson's "The Millionaire" and LaVern Baker's "A Little Bird Told Me So."
Hickey had no survivors, according to Vallis. [AP]
Here's more on Hickey from the Rockabilly Hall of Fame:
- Ersel Hickey was born in Brighton, New York on June 27, 1934. His Mother was from Kingston, Ontario, his Father was Irish (O' Hickey was the original name), he passed away when Ersel was four, there were eight children. Ersel's Mother had a nervous breakdown and was put into a hospital, at that time he was put into foster homes. He would run away all the time, living in different parts of New York State.
When Ersel was 15 he started traveling with his sister "Chicky Evans" an exotic dancer. She was very popular in the circuits and together they travelled for about a year. He decided to go on his own and travel with the carnival, then left and then began living in Columbus, Ohio. From there he was sent to a "tough kids" home, where he became familiar with the main Rhythm & Blues groups and started singing with the gospel group there.
Article comments
1 - HW Saxton Jr.
I'd bet Ersel never knew he was going to
end up tattooed on Teddy Boys and hepcat
Rockabilly types the world over.
The mind boggles at the thought of that
double bill of Ersel and Cab Calloway!!!
Way Too Cool. RIP Daddy-O.
2 - Eric Olsen
I'm sure he wished he got royalties for the image, which is certainly iconic
3 - Eric Olsen
UPDATE
Johnny Vallis writes to tell us Ersel did have a survivor, his common law partner Erica. More information at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site here.
Thanks Johnny!
4 - Martin Craig
Ersel was in touch with me in the UK only last year after reading about my 1979 recording of his classic East Coast rockabilly song, 'Goin' Down That Road Feelin' Blue', one of my all-time favourite songs.
He was still playing and hoped to meet up with me at the annual UK rock'n'roll bash in Hemsby, which he had to miss because of the illness that ultimately killed him.
He came across as a great guy who perhaps underestimated his own talent. I'll always be proud to have had some contact with him.
5 - Charles Lallo
I'm happy to have found this web site. I was good friends with Ersel and still with Erika. I was instrumental in getting Ersel to the hospital during his last days. I sure miss him we had fun together. We spent some time in the studio together where he co-produced with me one of my songs called "Celebrate The Earth". We had many good dinners at the Clam Broth House in Hoboken, NJ, USA. If anyone is interested you can go to www.craigslist.com and enter "ersel hickey" into the search box and you'll find a nice surprise. I was fortunate to be with Ersel when he was inducted into the Rockabill Hall of Fame. He was a wonderful, kind and generous man and I'm eternally grateful for his guidance and inspiration. He is greatly missed!
6 - debra hickey
i am debi hickey just 1 of ersels surviving family members.ersel was a big part of my life growing up, my father bill was very prode of him.so please stop saying he had no family members.its wrong and it hurts!
7 - Jeffrey Kaufman
anyone who has any information about the survivors of Ersels family please contact me [Personal contact info deleted]. His royalites are being held here and if no rightful heir claims they will be liquidated