Annie Zaleski

And it didn't work out or anything, but he kind of kept the song. And he later became a teacher. He was a choral director at California State University, Long Beach, and met Richard and Karen Carpenter. And basically, they asked, hey, do you have any Christmas songs? they could perform. He dug out his lyrics and Richard wrote music to it. What a lovely story.

He didn't realize that he was doing it. Richard just invited Frank to the studio and said, hey, I want you to listen to something. He put together the song. Karen's performance on this is just so I mean, there's almost no words to describe how beautiful it is. And it's just so tender and dynamic. And it's really, you know, that was fairly early in their career becoming hit makers.

He didn't realize that he was doing it. Richard just invited Frank to the studio and said, hey, I want you to listen to something. He put together the song. Karen's performance on this is just so I mean, there's almost no words to describe how beautiful it is. And it's just so tender and dynamic. And it's really, you know, that was fairly early in their career becoming hit makers.

He didn't realize that he was doing it. Richard just invited Frank to the studio and said, hey, I want you to listen to something. He put together the song. Karen's performance on this is just so I mean, there's almost no words to describe how beautiful it is. And it's just so tender and dynamic. And it's really, you know, that was fairly early in their career becoming hit makers.

And I think it was definitely one of those songs that showed, you know, another side of her and just showed her depth.

And I think it was definitely one of those songs that showed, you know, another side of her and just showed her depth.

And I think it was definitely one of those songs that showed, you know, another side of her and just showed her depth.

I knew you were going to say that because I did not realize what a polarizing that song was. And so this was actually written by a man named John Rocks. He basically had studied music in Vienna. He wrote some Broadway songs. And the singer was 12. Her name was Gayla Peavy. And so she was kind of on a child star who was kind of on an upswing. And she sang the song.

I knew you were going to say that because I did not realize what a polarizing that song was. And so this was actually written by a man named John Rocks. He basically had studied music in Vienna. He wrote some Broadway songs. And the singer was 12. Her name was Gayla Peavy. And so she was kind of on a child star who was kind of on an upswing. And she sang the song.

I knew you were going to say that because I did not realize what a polarizing that song was. And so this was actually written by a man named John Rocks. He basically had studied music in Vienna. He wrote some Broadway songs. And the singer was 12. Her name was Gayla Peavy. And so she was kind of on a child star who was kind of on an upswing. And she sang the song.

And I think what's most fascinating about this song is that the way they promoted it. I think now it's kind of foreshadowed the way music promotion is now. You know, so basically the whole story is she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas. And so how they promoted the song was saying she needs the real gala needs a hippopotamus.

And I think what's most fascinating about this song is that the way they promoted it. I think now it's kind of foreshadowed the way music promotion is now. You know, so basically the whole story is she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas. And so how they promoted the song was saying she needs the real gala needs a hippopotamus.

And I think what's most fascinating about this song is that the way they promoted it. I think now it's kind of foreshadowed the way music promotion is now. You know, so basically the whole story is she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas. And so how they promoted the song was saying she needs the real gala needs a hippopotamus.

And so they did all of these, you know, fundraisers and promotion and they did a fundraiser and they actually donated, people donated $4,000, which in the early 50s, you know, I calculated it was more than $40,000 today. And they basically found an elephant, Matilda, and they, she went to the Oklahoma City Zoo and she lived there for decades.

And so they did all of these, you know, fundraisers and promotion and they did a fundraiser and they actually donated, people donated $4,000, which in the early 50s, you know, I calculated it was more than $40,000 today. And they basically found an elephant, Matilda, and they, she went to the Oklahoma City Zoo and she lived there for decades.

And so they did all of these, you know, fundraisers and promotion and they did a fundraiser and they actually donated, people donated $4,000, which in the early 50s, you know, I calculated it was more than $40,000 today. And they basically found an elephant, Matilda, and they, she went to the Oklahoma City Zoo and she lived there for decades.

So it's a weird song and it's definitely kind of all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. There were a lot of songs like this in the early 50s, you know, the post-World War II baby boom, you know, children were music consumers. And I think that was definitely one of the songs too geared toward them.

So it's a weird song and it's definitely kind of all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. There were a lot of songs like this in the early 50s, you know, the post-World War II baby boom, you know, children were music consumers. And I think that was definitely one of the songs too geared toward them.

So it's a weird song and it's definitely kind of all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. There were a lot of songs like this in the early 50s, you know, the post-World War II baby boom, you know, children were music consumers. And I think that was definitely one of the songs too geared toward them.

That one is so funny because it's one man and he basically, and so if people know the song Witch Doctor by David Saville, and he put together the chipmunk song, he bought a really real cassette recorder and manipulated the tapes to make the chipmunk voices, which honestly for the time was very forward thinking. And he basically made these characters, these chipmunks.