Heard on its own, outside the context of a sock hop or whatever, it’s a perfectly fun tune, but it doesn’t leave much of an impression. [24] And Blain Mathé became a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. ", "Smiles Leave Happy Gang as End of 22 Year Era Looms. Some of the Gang, especially Bert Pearl, had expressed concern that so many years later, they would be forgotten,[28] but the positive reaction they received from the audience showed that the Happy Gang had remained an important part of growing up in Canada.[29]. The members of our group stopped, watched and listened for several seconds as the car rounded the Park Boundary Road curve and went up a hill toward the clubhouse. [4] The series also served as the template for CBC's French language service, Les Joyeux Troubadours (fr), which was broadcast from 1941 to 1977. "Old Happy Gang Gather to Recall Knock, Knocks. So it served a utilitarian function, and a noble one. The Happy Organ was one of several "Happy" catch-all names used by Sunnyvale Records to release instrument-specific albums of popular songs. Print and Download The Happy Organ sheet music. Sometimes making small changes can have bigger impact in the long run. Instead, then, he decided to knock out a quick instrumental, playing a deliberately goofy organ riff, one built out of the traditional song “Shortenin’ Bread,” over a fired-up R&B groove. The record topped the Billboard Hot 100 on 11 May 1959 and also reached #5 on Billboard's R&B chart. Happy Organs is about enriching you with research-based quick healthy tips, for holistic health. [17] Canadian ships at sea played phonograph records by the Happy Gang during the war years; the members also received a number of awards from the government. Album Of The Week: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, & Jon Randall. For example, the Gang performed the patriotic "There'll Always Be An England" nearly every day, giving hope to the listeners when the war effort seemed to be going badly. Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016. Instead, I’m pretty sure “The Happy Organ” functioned almost entirely as dance music, as something that kids could bug out to at parties. ", "Imperial Theatre is Sold Out for Tonight. "The Happy Organ" is the name of an instrumental composition made famous by Dave "Baby" Cortez in 1959. Stokes was already a popular entertainer; she had been the staff organist at CFRB in Toronto, and was also known in vaudeville and on the air as "Canada's Sweetheart of the Theatre Organ." Bill Taylor. She received two standing ovations. Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka Happy, Happy Birthday Baby - Tuneweavers Happy Days - Pratt And McClain Happy Organ - Dave "Baby" Cortez Happy Together- The Turtles Hard Days Night - Beatles Harper Valley P.T.A. "The Happy Organ" was a huge left-field instrumental rock'n'roll hit for organist Dave "Baby" Cortez, going all the way to #1 in 1959. Hi. There was no explanation given for his departure, and rumors and speculation swirled in the press that he had a serious illness or perhaps a drinking problem. [11], The show had an iconic opening which became a catch-phrase for Canadian listeners: first there was the sound of someone knocking at the door—it was actually violinist Blain Mathé, rapping on his violin. "Bert Pearl: Canadian Superstar Leaves Quietly. Dave "Baby" Cortez. [13]. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. Lyrics to The Happy Organ by Dave . Would you please disable adblock? The Happy Gang ran for 22 years, totalling nearly 4900 broadcasts, until it was finally canceled in late August 1959. The arrangement code for the composition is Piano. The Number Ones is a new column where I’ll review every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the chart’s beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present. - Jeanie C. Riley Hats Off To Larry - Del Shannon Tranposable music notes for Piano Solo sheet music by : Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music at Sheet Music Plus. The Happy Gang debuted on June 14, 1937 on station CRCT, a CBC affiliate in Toronto, later known as CBL. [25], Long after The Happy Gang had left the air, replaced by The Tommy Hunter Show in the summer of 1959,[26] the troupe (except for Blain Mathé and Robert Farnon), reunited in 1975 at the Canadian National Exhibition; a record 20,000 fans attended their performance; Bert Pearl came back for that concert. (HX.314441). "Robert Farnon, Composer and Conductor 1917-2005. "Eddie Allen: Moms Always Liked Him Best. It is basically an old-style electronic organ playing polkas and waltzes. Mildred Jane Hill (June 27, 1859 – June 5, 1916) was an American songwriter and musicologist, who composed the melody for "Good Morning to All", later used as the melody for "Happy Birthday to You". The most important stories and least important memes, every Friday. The Happy Gang was a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio lunchtime variety show that ran from 1937 to 1959. Clowney made his first record in 1956 under his own name but it was not until three years later that he scored a major success using the stage name Dave "Baby" Cortez. [15] And songs of faith like "The Lord's Prayer" inspired and comforted listeners whose sons were fighting overseas. [19], June Callwood wrote a profile of the Happy Gang for Maclean's Magazine in 1950 titled "The Not-So-Happy Gang" which revealed that despite their on-air camaraderie, ensemble members did not get along and that "it is possible one half the Gang would cheer happily if the other half was fired" and that host Bert Pearl, while respected by his crew, was frustrated and unhappy with his role. The Happy Organ est un morceau instrumental interprété par Dave "Baby" Cortez, créé en 1958, sorti en février 1959 chez Clock Records et qui atteindra la 1 e place au Billboard Hot 100. [20], In 1952, Barry Wood took over from Hugh Bartlett as the Happy Gang's new announcer, and served in that role for the show's final years. Check out The Happy Organ by Dave "Baby" Cortez on Amazon Music. "Welcome Home to Bert Pearl. ", Ross McLean. His instrumental, "The Happy Organ", was the first pop/rock hit to feature the electronic organ as lead instrument. In 1937, CBC Regional Program Director George Taggart was given the assignment to come up with a Monday-through-Friday half-hour variety program that would fill the period 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. E.S.T. During the Golden Age of Radio and well into the 1950s, it was one of Canada's most popular programs. Instead, I’m pretty sure “The Happy Organ” functioned almost entirely as dance music, as something that kids could bug out to at parties. This CD provides a good overall examples of Dave "Baby" Cortez music. This page was last edited on 3 May 2021, at 13:28. Neither was true: years later, he explained that the pressure of constantly performing, with little time off for eighteen years, led to a nervous breakdown. We offer original sheet music in a range of formats including, digital, hardcover, and softcover. Credited with coming up with the concept that became the Happy Gang, Pearl's on-air persona was "that slap-happy chappy, the Happy Gang's Own Pappy." [9] George Temple was appointed the Happy Gang's first producer, and he remained a producer for the show till 1955. [5] His fellow musicians were trumpeter Robert (Bob) Farnon, violinist Blain Mathé and organist Kathleen (Kay) Stokes. Guest Singer Ron Sherman aka Ronald Schuman Late 1950s? After Bert Pearl's departure in 1955, Allen became the Happy Gang's Master of Ceremonies. His tight budget permitted only four musicians. ", "The Leaside Gang that Made Canada Happy. The song was a "happy" accident - Doug Moody, owner and producer of Clock, told Songfacts how it came together: "Dave lost his voice that Saturday morning and could not sing 'The Cat And The Dog.' ", "Tears and Laughter with the Happy Gang. Cortez was signed to a small label called Clock Records, and recorded it at their studio. ", Nadine Jones. Dave "Baby" Cortez The Happy Organ (Expanded Edition) ℗ Originally released 1959. …Oh, my. ", Tim McDonald. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Happy_Gang&oldid=1021204218, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, saxophonist-clarinetist Cliff McKay - 1943–1952 and returned to replace Gimby. The song “The Happy Organ” was blaring from the car radio. And the reply, "Well, come on in!" 4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Dave Cortez THE HAPPY ORGAN. [3] Originally intended as just a summer fill-in, it gained a following, and was moved to the CBC network four months later. [27] Also performing was Kay Stokes, who was 81 by this time. The organists on the recordings were Bob Kames and Bill Kehr, possibly among others. [16] The members also made personal appearances, and participated in benefit concerts to support the war effort. Dave "Baby" Cortez The Happy Organ This score was first released on Monday 31st August, 2015 and was last updated on Friday 6th November, 2020. Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2012. If you’re looking for sheet music for The Happy Organ then you have come to the right place. As an independent website, we rely on our measly advertising income to keep the lights on. "Happy Gang's Bert Pearl Dies in Los Angeles at 73. His instrumental, "The Happy Organ" was the first pop/rock hit to feature the organ as lead instrument with Gary Hammond as drummer. "Canada's Centennial Pied Piper. During the Golden Age of Radio and well into the 1950s, it was one of Canada's most popular programs. BONUS BEATS: Here’s the cover of “The Happy Organ” that the underrated soul-reggae great Jackie Mittoo and his band the Soul Vendors released in 1968: The Number Ones: George Michael’s “One More Try”, The Number Ones: Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine’s “Anything For You”, Ska’s New Generation Is Here To Pick It Up Pick It Up, Album Of The Week: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, & Jon Randall The Marfa Tapes. ", Jack Miller. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1959 Vinyl release of "The Happy Organ" on Discogs. Check out The Happy Organ by Dave "Baby" Cortez on Amazon Music. Listen to music by Bob Kames and The Happy Organ on Apple Music. A small exhibit of the show opened at CBC Museum in 2005,[30] and remained until the space's closure in 2017. So it served a utilitarian function, and a noble one. We hope you’ll like our music and our songs and our jokes..." [8], Herb May, who served his apprenticeship with CBO Ottawa and had been moved to Toronto, became the show’s first regular announcer.