Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland, at the age of 16 had the #1 record in the country, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”. Embark with us to relive it.
Brian Hyland Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Brian Hyland was born in Woodhaven Queens on November 12, th 1943.
At the age of 16, he had the #1 record in the country, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”, for which he received a Gold Record.
Brian Hyland moved from Kapp Records, which produced Itsy Bitsy, and went on to ABC Paramount, where he cut a string of chart records, with the writing/production team of Gary Geld and Peter Udell; “Let me Belong to You”, “Ginny Come Lately”, “Sealed with a Kiss” and “Warmed-over Kisses”.
Brian’s Country Rock chart singles, include, “I’m Afraid to go Home”. About this time, Brian performed in Greenwich Village at the Café Wha?, with a up and coming comedian named Richard Pryor.
Brian moved to Phillips Records, where he recorded an album produced by Snuff Garrett, with the musical assistance of Leon Russell and JJ Cale. It included “The Joker went Wild” and” “Run, Run, Look and See”, which were in the top 20 on the charts.
Later, Brian went on to record two albums with Ray Ruff, which included his remake of the Thomas Wayne song “Tragedy.”
Brian cut his 3rd Gold Record with Curtis Mayfield’s, “Gypsy Woman”, produced by Del Shannon. Gypsy Woman sold over 3 million copies internationally. This was followed by his tenth album, with 6 original songs and another single hit, a version of Jackie Wilson’s, “Lonely Teardrops”.
Brian successfully recorded everything from Novelty to Pop Ballads; to Folk Rock to Country Rock; to Pop Rock to Pop Soul, over more than a decade. However, he has spent half of his life on the road (Bodi, his son, joined him, playing drums, from 1990 to 2020), and in the studio writing, recording and simply, living his music. His latest single release is a reimagining of the classic song “Come a Little bit Closer”, written by Boyce, Hart and Farrell.
To this day, Brian continues to write, record and perform all over the world.