Kip Tyler

Kip Tyler (May 31, 1929 – September 23, 1996) was an American singer and bongo player.

Kip Tyler
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • musician
Instrument(s)Bongo drum

Early life

Elwood Westertson Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

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.[3] In early 1957, Kip caught the attention of arranger Joseph Gershenson who hired him to work on a project connected to the movie "Rock, Pretty Baby".[2] 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.[2] Songs such as "Red Lips and Green Eyes", "Bongo Rock" and "Hole in the Wall" were produced at Decca Records.[3] Unfortunately for Tyler, the sequel to "Rock, Pretty Baby", "Summer Love" was a flop and so was the career of his surname, Jimmy Daley.[3]

In late 1957, he formed a new group, Kip Tyler And The Flips, responsible for the hits "Let's Monkey Around", "Jungle Hop" and "She's My Witch".[4] 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's last single was made in 1965.

Music

YearProducerSong / LP Title
1956SP DECCA 9-30163 (US)Can I Steal A Little Love (1) / Rock, Pretty Baby (1)
1956EP DECCA ED 2480 (US)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)
1956EP DECCA ED 2481 (US)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)
1956EP DECCA ED 2482 (US)ROCK, PRETTY BABY, VOL. 3 - Picnic By The Sea (1) / Young Love (1) / Happy Is A Boy Named Me (1) / Hot Rod (1) / Big Band Rock And Roll (1)
1957SP DECCA 9-30358 (US)Red Lips And Green Eyes (1) / How's About A Little Kiss (1)
1957SP DECCA 9-30532 (US)Bongo Rock (1) / Hole In The Wall (1)
1957SP STARLA S-2 (US)Let's Monkey Around (2) / Vagabond Mama (2)
1958SP CHALLENGE 1014 (US)Shadow Street / She Got Eyes
1958SP CHALLENGE 59008 (US)Jungle Hop (2) / Ooh Yeah Baby (2)
1958EP DECCA ED 2578 (US)SUMMER LOVE (The Soundtrack) - Summer Love (1) / Beatin' On The Bongos (1) / Sad Sax (1) / Sox Hop (1) / Love Is Something (Magic Penny) (1) / Boppin' At The Bash (1)
1958SP EBB 154 (US)She's My Witch / Rumble Rock
1959SP EBB 156 (US)Oh Linda / Hali-Lou
1960SP IMPERIAL 5641 (US)Rocket 'Round The Universe / The Goblin Trot
1962SP TAR-GET 1001 (US)Twistin'-An-Stompin' [instrumental] (3) / + Barbara JOY
1962SP TORCHLITE 501 (US)Drum Twist, Pt. 1 (4) / Drum Twist, Pt. 2 (4)
1963SP GYRO-DISC 711 (US)Toledo (5) / Eternity (A Surfers Lament) (5)
1964SP GYRO-DISC 710 (US)That Bell Of Freedom / On The Flipside [instrumental] (6)
1964SP GYRO-DISC 710 (US)That Bell Of Freedom / Girl From Ipanema
1965SP GYRO-DISC 712 (US)The King Of Love / Snowlight
198?SP WAVY GRAVY LC-101 (US)Jungle Hop (2) / + Ronnie COOK & The GAYLADS

(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 White Fronts[5]

(6) Kip Tyler & The Break-Outs

Death

He died on September 23, 1996 Los Angeles, California from natural causes.

References

  1. Searles, Malcolm C. (2019). Bread: A Sweet Surrender. ISBN 9781642933253. Retrieved January 15, 2022. During the late 1950s, he hooked up with fellow Californian rock'n'roll enthusiast Kip Tyler, one of the leading exponents of the local rockabilly sound.
  2. "KIP TYLER". www.rockabilly.nl. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  3. Hartmudo (13 February 2013). "hartmudo: Kip Tyler & the Flips". hartmudo.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  4. "Kip Tyler & The Flips". Discogs. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  5. "Kip Tyler". www.rocky-52.net. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
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