The Styrous® Viewfinder: Television

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September 15, 2021

Music Note: Ed Sullivan & the Sulli-Gulli

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