Shirley Ellis


Shirley Marie O'Garra was an American soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian heritage. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty", "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song". "The Clapping Song" sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

Career

By 1954, Ellis had written two songs which were recorded by the Chords. She was originally in the group the Metronomes and married 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.

Personal life

Shirley O'Garra was born to William H. and Petra O'Garra. Her father was a native of Montserrat and her mother was born in the Bahamas. Shirley had three full siblings, Joyce, Bertram and William Jr, and four half siblings, Reginald, Suzanne, Joycelyn and Berbian. O'Garra married her husband, Arnold Alphonso Elliston, in Florida on August 3, 1949. It is not known if she had children. She died on October 5, 2005, in New York City at the age of 76.

Cover versions

s of her hits have been recorded by Madeline Bell, the Belle Stars, Laura Branigan, Aaron Carter, Gary Glitter, Ricardo Ray, Pia Zadora, Southern Culture on the Skids, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Divine, Harris Glenn Milstead. In addition, her song "Soul Time" was sampled by the UK band the Go! Team for their single "Bottle Rocket".
In 2011, “The Name Game” was covered by Jessica Lange and the cast of and was featured in the episode of the same name.

Discography

Studio albums