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Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers Released A Few Top 40 Songs
Everyone back in the 60s was looking to make it not only as a TV/movie star, but also to get in on the records-on-the-radio racket. Some - like Patty Duke, Frankie Avalon, Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabres - made the charts. Others - like Dwayne Hickman of Dobie Gillis fame - didn't. Another who tried but flopped was the once very popular Jerry Mathers of Leave It To Beaver fame, who recorded a few songs in an attempt to jump on the musical bandwagon.
None of his attempts made it and if you listen to the samples below, you'll know why!
Here's what was on the flip of that record, although I have no idea which one was meant as the A-side. They're both pretty awful. But up until I accidentally found this, I had no idea they ever let Beaver Cleaver near a microphone. They're terrible tunes but two interesting historical curiosities.
- Jim Southern
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Re: Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers Released A Few Top 40 Songs
Just a little nit-picking here. I agree with the other 3 but Frankie Avalon was primarily a recording star starting in 1958 and other than numerous appearances on "American Bandstand" did not have much of a TV history. He did jump from records to the movies (and the lovely Annette) and did enjoy some fame there. His biggest hit recording was "Beauty School Dropout", since it was on an album that sold 8+ million units.
- Lorne
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Re: Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers Released A Few Top 40 Songs
I was surprised to learn many years ago that Frankie Avalon had started out as a trumpet player. Here are two excerpts from Wikipedia about this.
In December 1952, Avalon made his American network television debut playing the trumpet in the Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show. Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued on RCA Victor's "X" sublabel in 1954. His trumpet playing was also featured on some of his LP songs as well. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.
Avalon's first film was a short appearance in Jamboree (1957), playing a trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".
- Lorne
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Re: Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers Released A Few Top 40 Songs
And getting back to Mathers, I just had to find out which song was the A side, and whether there were any followup singles. It was Don't Cha Cry, and there was one -- as Beaver and The Trappers. For some reason, the name change doesn't seem to have helped. 