Music Note: Ed Sullivan & the Sulli-Gulli

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One of the joys/perks of doing the blog is the off the wall, odd ball stuff I come across while researching for an article. This particular item is a case in point.   

 

Every Sunday at 7 PM our family would turn on the television to watch the Ed Sullivan Show; practically EVERYONE in America did. It was a big influence on my life as I saw and heard some great acts, not only music but many of the standup comedians I came to love I first heard on the Sullivan Show.      

 

There were lots of acrobat, ventriloquists, music, animal and comedy acts he introduced but a fun act was one he was involved in. On May 11th of 1969, he appeared with The Ed Sullivan Singers And Orchestra with choreography by Hal Grego doing the Sulli-Gulli (link below).         

     

On Monday, September 15, 1969, Ed Sullivan released his first and only Rock 'n' Roll record, Sulli-Gulli, credited to The Ed Sullivan Singers And Orchestra, choreography by Hal Grego, music by Ray Bloch with saxophonist Teo Macero producing.    

With this tune Sullivan was hoping to create a new dance. Perhaps he was counting on the popularity of the song Hully Gully by The Olympics as a reference; however, he was ten years too late. Sulli-Gulli, failed to even crack the Billboard Hot 100.                  

     

Ed Sullivan & Teo Macero recording Sulli-Gulli
 photographer unknown 

In any event, the video of the one and only performance of the song on the Ed Sullivan Show (link below) is fun to watch; it is pretty dated and maybe only I like it.    

Sulli-Gulli front cover

45 RPM record sleeve

Sulli-Gulli back cover

45 RPM record sleeve

Sulli-Gulli Video
5-11-69 featuring Hal Grego
Produced by Bob Precht
Directed by John Moffitt
Music by Ray Bloch
Set design by Bill Bohnert
Choreography by Peter Cennaro
Production Manager - Tony Jordan
Associate Director - Bob Schwarz
Assistant to Producer - Ken Campbell
Technical Director - Charles Grenier
Audio - Art Shine
Lighting Director - Bill Greenfield
Production Supervisor - Herb Benton
Stage Managers - Ed Brinkmann & Don Mayo
Special Effects - Neal Schatz
Set Decorator - Ed Pasternak
Costumes by Leslie Renfield
Graphic Arts - Sam Cecere
Talent Coordinator - Vince Calandra
Music Coordinator - Robert Arthur

A Presentation of Sullivan Productions, Inc.

Sulli-Gulli side 1

45 RPM record label

   

Tracklist:
       
Side 1:

        

A        Sulli-Gullli Part I    2:24

       
Side 2:
       
B        Sulli-Gullli Part II    2:26
       
Credits:
       
    Arranged By – Warren Vincent
    Conductor – Teo Macero
    Producer – Teo Macero
    Written By – F. Glenn, M. Bliss
       
Ed Sullivan Singers & Orchestra* – Sulli-Gulli
Label: Columbia – 4-44940
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released:
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul     

     

      

     

     

     

Viewfinder links:       

         

Ray Bloch        

Teo Macero         

The Olympics        

Ed Sullivan        

     
Net links:       

         

Forgotten Hits ~ The Sulli-Gulli       

Hal Grego - Born to dance (interview) (42 mins,19 secs)        

     

YouTube links:       

         

DoYouRemember? ~ Sullivan performances that changed history (11 mins.)   

The Ed Sullivan Singers ~ The Sulli-Gulli        

        

        

        

        

        
        
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, September 15, 2021        
        

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