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Dwayne Hickman’s passing got me thinking of all the other TV stars in the 1950s and 1960s that either went on to become popular singers, or at the very least released singles or albums (with varying degrees of success in the music world – sometimes they would just do it to advertise their TV shows).
Rick(y) Nelson, who was the youngest Nelson son in Ozzie & Harriet was one of the more famous, with numerous Number One hits. He also performed regularly on the show, particularly in the later episodes. Shelley Fabares & Paul Peterson from the Donna Reed Show had their moment of fame, but never were as successful as singers (although, of course, Shelley had Johnny Angel, an all-time classic). Annette Funicello graduated from the Mickey Mouse Club and became the singing hearthrob for numerous teenage boys in that era, with such singles as Tall Paul & How Will I Know My Love.
And that’s just from the 1950s.
In the 1960s there was Patty Duke (who played both twin sisters on the Patty Duke Show); she had several hits including Don’t Just Stand There. Johnny Crawford played the teenage son in The Rifleman, and had multiple hits, including Cindy’s Birthday and Your Nose is Gonna Grow. Like Annette Funicello, he also started out as a Mouseketeer.
But what I find most interesting are the actors and actresses that did music who are virtually unknown for that today. Dwayne Hickman was one. Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett in the Beverly Hillbillies, released a single titled All the Other Girls. In later life she became a gospel singer. Clint Eastwood, first known for his work in Rawhide, released several singles, including Rowdy. Larry Hovis, who played Sergeant Carter in Hogan’s Heroes, was a nightclub singer before he was cast on TV, and released We Can Have Lots of Fun. Even Ted Cassidy who played Lurch on the Addams Family released (Do) The Lurch.
And who can forget William Shatner’s version of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds from the album The Transformed Man, released in 1968. He went on to release numerous albums. There are also other Star Trek stars that had their hand in the music industry. In 1967 & 1968, Leonard Nimoy released Music From Outer Space and The Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy (the latter contained the song Highly Illogical). Even Brent Spiner (Data from TNG) got into the act, releasing Old Yellow Eyes is Back in 1991.
This is the stuff that winds my crank in the Park 15 world. Not ground lead lengths or audiophile discussions on attaining a pristine signal (that will travel several hundred feet before you get static and/or noise).
Reprinted (with permission) from the Artisan Radio Blog.
I had to look up to see who Dwayne Hickman was and he was in an Annette Funicello beach movie but I never knew the names of the co stars. I don’t know the names of most actors in movies or TV shows except a few.
I love the Donna Reed show. Shelly Fabares recorded a good many songs besides her big hit Johnny Angel. There was the follow up Johnny Loves me but not the hit that Johnny Angel was. I have 4 or 5 songs by her on my playlist. Also Lost Summer Love and Football Season’s Over and another which I can’t think of right now and too lazy to go get my playlist and look. Oh Yeah…Ronnie Call Me When You Get a Chance!
Paul Peterson’s hit My Dad was his biggest. But I also have She Can’t Find Her Keys on the rotation also.
Lots of Ricky Nelson. Paul Peterson not to be confused with Ray Peterson who had the hit Tell Laura I love her.
I love those 50s and 60s shows like Donna Reed which was middle class families bringing their kids up right, innocence. Like the songs that Shelly Fabares sang….romance and innocence. Paul Peterson too. None of that today. It’s a sad world.
Johnny Crawford…have the songs you mentioned plus Judy Loves me.
I never knew of William Shatner’s version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds! Wow.
I should listen to that to satisfy my curiosity.
One of my favorites by Annette is Train of Love.Dwayne Hickman certainly sounds like the later Rick Nelson (without the overdubbing).
Here are some more TV stars who released teen pop singles.
First, the easy ones. Debbie Reynolds, The Debbie Reynolds Show, with Are You For Real. Doris Day, The Doris Day Show, with A Guy is a Guy.
Lorne Greene, Bonanza, with Ringo. Michael Landon, Bonanza, with Linda is Lonesome.
Now for some more obscure ones.
Connie Stevens, Hawaiian Eye, with Too Young To Go Steady and Sixteen Reasons. Troy Donahue, Surfside 6 and Hawaiian Eye, with Live Young. Robert Conrad, Hawaiian Eye and the Wild Wild West, with The Great Magician.
Jack Larson, The Adventures of Superman (Jimmy Olsen), with Do Yourself a Favor.
Dean Jones, Ensign O’Toole and Walt Disney, with The Proud Don’t Cry.
Tim Constantine, My Three Sons, with What Do Little Girls Dream Of. Don Grady, My Three Sons, with A Broken Heart Knows Better.
Jerry Mathers, Leave It To Beaver, with Don’t Cha Cry.
And finally, Sal Mineo and Mamie van Doren, both primarily cast as eye candy in movies, but making numerous TV guest appearances. Sal Mineo with Young As We Are, Mamie van Doren with The Bikini With No Top on Top.
Have fun listening! There are some gems in there.
There’s also David Soul from Starsky and Hutch with Don’t Give Up On Us and a couple of others.
Sixteen reasons wasn’t so obscure, was a top 10 national hit.This could go on and on…..check this out…..remember Festas from the TV classic Gunsmoke? Well, this sure surprised me, He also was a singer in country music. Here’s a sample….
Virtually every TV star song mentioned above I play regularly on commercial AM radio. For those of us lucky enough to work at real radio, things some consider to be the domain of Part 15 radio are actually pretty common.
TIB
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