Ross Bagdasarian

Ross Bagdasarian (1919-1972) was a songwriter, singer, and occasional actor best remembered for his experiments with sped up high-pitched vocals, used in his self-composed song "Witch Doctor" and subsequently leading to The Chipmunks. Several of his songs, with and without rodents, were used on Sam and Friends.
Bagdasarian was a cousin of playwright William Saroyan and made his acting debut in Saroyan's 1939 Broadway play The Time of Your Life (with Gene Kelly and Will Lee). He co-wrote the song "Come On-a My House" with Saroyan, which became a hit for Rosemary Clooney in 1951. Solo, he wrote and sang "Hey Brother Pour The Wine " in 1953 which Dean Martin covered the following year. More songs followed as well as intermittent acting jobs, usually extras or bits, although he was in Hitchcock's Rear Window, typecast as the songwriter seen in a neighboring apartment. In 1956, Bagdasarian performed the single "The Trouble with Harry," written by others and inspired by Hitchcock's film of the same name. While the trouble with movie Harry was that he was dead and his corpse in the way, the recorded Harry won't stop playing the same repetitive piano tune, frustrating "Alfi" (played by Bagdasarian) in a dynamic which set the pattern for the Chipmunks.
Bagdasarian's songs continued to be recorded by others, but he made less traction as a singer himself. His label Liberty suggested a name change, using David Seville for performer credit but Bagdasarian still for songwriting. "Witch Doctor" in 1958 was followed by "The Chipmunk Song" and David Seville gradually transitioned from a stage name to the character of the squeaky trio's frustrated producer. By the time of The Alvin Show animated series in 1961, Bagdasarian used his own name for voice, music, and production credits, rather than that of the now cartoon foil Dave.
==Records used==
Dates note first transcription or confirmed air use; often reused
*1955: "When You See a Pretty Girl" (1955) sung by Jerry Colonna, written by Bagdasarian.Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. BearManor Media, 2022. p. 266 
*1956: "A Little Beauty" (1955) sung by Art Carney, written by Bagdasarian.ibid. p. 268
*1956: "The Trouble with Harry" (1955) performed by Alfi (Bagdasarian) and Harry.ibid.
*1958: "The Chipmunk Song" (1958) written and performed.ibid. p. 319
*1959: "Cecilia" (1957) performed as David Seville.ibid. p. 324
*1959: "Little Brass Band," written and performed.ibid. p. 326
*1959: "Alvin's Harmonica," written and performed.ibid. p. 346
*1960: "Gotta Get to Your House," written and performed.ibid. p. 451
==Sources==
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Category:Musical References
Category:Covered Songwriters