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Artist
Shirley Ellis
12+ albums
soulfunknorthern soul60sfemale vocalists
about
Shirley Ellis (Shirley Marie O'Garra, 19 January 1929 – 5 October 2005) was an American soul music singer and songwriter of Carribean origin. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty" (1963) (US no. 8), "The Name Game" (1964) (US no. 3) and "The Clapping Song" (1965) (US no. 8 and UK no. 6). "The Clapping Song" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. By 1954 she had written two songs which were recorded by The Chords. Ellis was originally in the group The Metronomes and she went on to marry the lead singer, Alphonso Elliston. All her solo hits were written by her and her manager, record producer, and songwriting partner, Lincoln Chase. Ellis had recording contracts with the Kapp Records subsidiary Congress and later Columbia and Bell, but retired from the music industry in 1968. Shirley O'Garra was born to William H. and Petra (Smith) O'Garra on 19 January 1929 (though her Social Security card shows 20 January 1927). Her father was a native of Montserrat and her mother was born in the Bahamas. Shirley had three full siblings; Joyce, Bertram and William H Jr and four half siblings Reginald, Suzanne, Joycelyn and Berbian. O'Garra married her husband, Arnold Alphonso Elliston (21 Oct 1929 - 23 Aug 2009; professional name: Alphonso Elliston) on 3 August 1949 in Florida. It is not known if she had children. Cover versions of her hits have been recorded by Madeline Bell, The Belle Stars, Laura Branigan, Aaron Carter, Gary Glitter, Ricardo Ray,
top songs
1
The Clapping Song
29,4172The Name Game
17,9223Soul Time - Single Version
17,2984Soul Time
15,2065The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap) - Single Version
15,1426Name Game
8,7487I See It, I Like It, I Want It
8,7148The Nitty Gritty
8,1139The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)
2,79710Ever See A Diver Kiss His Wife While The Bubbles Bounce About Above The Water?
2,373albums
The Clapping Song... And More
The Name Game
The Trip Created By Tom Middleton (Disc 1)
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Classic Doo Wop Girl Groups
Because Of Winn-Dixie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Best Of The Northern Soul Story
Blow Up A-Go-Go!
Sugar, Let's Shing-A-Ling
The Very Best Of
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Because Of Winn-Dixie [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
Because Of Winn-Dixie
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Dreamboats And Petticoats Summer Holidays