Kip Tyler
Kip Tyler (May 31, 1929 - September 23, 1996) was an American rock and roll singer and bongo player.
Early life
His birth name was Elwood Westertson Smith and he was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Career
Lead singer of Sleepwalkers during his time at Union High School and later teamed up with rival musicians from Fairfax High School to form the early version of Kip Tyler and the Flips. In early, 1957, Kip caught the attention of arranger Joesph Gershenson who hired him to work on a project connected to the movie "Rock, Pretty Baby". Stemming from the success of movie, Tyler took on the name of Jimmy Daley (the main character of the movie who he provided a voice over for) and formed the band Jimmy Daley And The Ding-A-Lings. He recorded his first album at Decca records.. Songs such as "Red Lips and Green Eyes", "Hole in the Wall" and " Bongo Rock" were produced at Decca Records. Unfortunately for Tyler, the squeal to "Rock, Pretty Baby", "Summer Love" was a flop and so was the career of his surname, Jimmy Daley.
In late 1957, he formed a new group, Kip Tyler And The Flips, responsible for the hits Jungle Hop, Let's Monkey Around and She's My Witch. When the band split in 1959, Tyler attempted a solo career, but with limited success. In 1964 he recorded for the label Gyro Disk, and his success briefly peaked after recording a number of songs. Tyler retired from the music industry in 1965.
Music
Year |
Producer |
Song / LP Title |
|---|---|---|
1956 |
SP DECCA 9-30163 (US) |
Can I Steal A Little Love (1) / Rock, Pretty Baby (1) |
1956 |
EP DECCA ED 2480 (US) |
JIMMY DALEY & THE DING-A-LINGS: ROCK, PRETTY BABY, VOl.1 - Rock, Pretty Baby (1) / Dark Blue (1) / Free & Easy (1) / What's It Gonna Be (1) / Rockin' The Boogie (1) |
1956 |
EP DECCA ED 2481 (US) |
JIMMY DALEY & THE DING-A-LINGS: ROCK, PRETTY BABY, VOL.2 - Rockabye Lullaby Blues (1) / Teen Age Bop (1) / The Most (1) / Can I Steal A Little Love (1) / Juke Box Rock (1) / The Saints Rock 'N Roll (1) |
1956 |
EP DECCA ED 2482 (US) |
JIMMY DALEY & THE DING-A-LINGS: ROCK, PRETTY BABY, VOL.3 - (1) |
1957 |
SP DECCA 9-30332 (US) |
Bongo Rock (2) / Hole In The Wall (2) |
1957 |
SP DECCA 9-30358 (US) |
Red Lips And Green Eyes (1) / How's AbOUT A Little Kiss? (1) |
1957 |
SP STARLA S-2 (US) |
Let's Monkey Around (2) / Vagabond Mama (2) |
1958 |
SP CHALLENGE 1014 (US) |
Shadow Street / She Got Eyes |
1958 |
SP CHALLENGE 59008 (US) |
Jungle Hop / Ooh Yeah Baby (2) |
1958 |
SP EBB 154 (US) |
Rumble Rock / She's My Witch |
1958 |
EP DECCA ED 2578 (US) |
JIMMY DALEY & THE DING-A-LINGS: SUMMER LOVE - (1) |
1959 |
SP EBB 156 (US) |
Oh Linda / Hali-Lou |
1960 |
SP IMPERIAL 5641 (US) |
Rocket 'Round The Universe / The Goblin Trot |
196? |
SP TARGET ? (US) |
Twistin' & Stompin' (3) / ? |
1962 |
SP TORCHLITE 501 (US) |
Drum Twist Pt.1 (4) / Drum Twist Pt.2 (4) |
1964 |
SP GYRO-DISC 710 (US) |
That Bell Of Freedom (5) / Girl From Ipanema (5) |
1964 |
SP GYRO-DISC 710 (US) |
That Bell Of Freedom (6) / On The Flipside (6) |
1964 |
SP GYRO-DISC 711 (US) |
Toledo (7) / Eternity (7) |
1965 |
SP GYRO-DISC 712 (US) |
The King Of Love (8) / Snowlight (8) |
(1) Jimmy Daley & The Ding-A-Lings (Feat. Kip Tyler)
(2) Kip Tyler & The Flips
(3) The Kipsters
(4) Kipper & The Exciters
(5) Kip Tyler & The Surfers
(6) Kip Tyler & The White Fronts
(7) Kip Tyler & The Break-Outs
Death
He died on September 23, 1996 Los Angeles, California from natural causes.