Johnny Thunder (singer)
Encyclopedia
Johnny Thunder is the professional stage name of Gil Hamilton (born August 15, 1932). He is an American
R&B and pop singer, whose biggest hit was "Loop De Loop" in 1963.
, and started singing in church and on street corners when in his teens. Aiming to start a singing career in the late 1950s, he moved to New York City
, where he joined a touring version of The Drifters
for a few months, and also sang in an Apollo Theater
production, A Blind Man Sings the Blues. He also recorded as a backing singer for Dionne Warwick
and others, and, as Gil Hamilton, recorded several singles for various small labels. One of his singles recorded in 1962, "Tell Her", written by Bert Berns
under the pseudonym Bert Russell, and produced by Berns, was the original version of "Tell Him" which later became an international hit for The Exciters
(and in the UK for Billie Davis
).
In 1963 he linked up with songwriter and record producer Teddy Vann, who persuaded him to record a novelty version of the traditional children's nursery song "Loop de Loop" (also known as "Looby Lou"), using the name "Johnny Thunder". Vann also advised him to appeal more to the teenage market by claiming he was born in 1941 rather than his actual birth year of 1932. The record, released on the Diamond
label, became a big hit, rising to no. 4 on the Billboard
Hot 100 in early 1963; it was covered
by Frankie Vaughan
in the UK. Johnny Thunder released an album, Loop De Loop, and several follow-up singles, of which "Everybody Do The Sloopy" was the most successful, reaching no. 67 in late 1965. In 1967, he had another minor hit as part of a duo with Ruby Winters
on "Make Love To Me
". Thereafter, he recorded for several labels, as both Johnny Thunder and Gil Hamilton, without repeating his success.
Since the 1960s, Johnny Thunder has continued to tour internationally, and has regularly appeared on luxury cruise ships in the Caribbean
and elsewhere.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B and pop singer, whose biggest hit was "Loop De Loop" in 1963.
Life and career
Gil Hamilton was born in Leesburg, FloridaLeesburg, Florida
Leesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,956 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,086.. Leesburg is located in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Oklawaha River system....
, and started singing in church and on street corners when in his teens. Aiming to start a singing career in the late 1950s, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he joined a touring version of The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
for a few months, and also sang in an Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
production, A Blind Man Sings the Blues. He also recorded as a backing singer for Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
and others, and, as Gil Hamilton, recorded several singles for various small labels. One of his singles recorded in 1962, "Tell Her", written by Bert Berns
Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns , most commonly known as Bert Berns as well as Bert Russell and Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s...
under the pseudonym Bert Russell, and produced by Berns, was the original version of "Tell Him" which later became an international hit for The Exciters
The Exciters
The Exciters were an American pop music group of the 1960s. They were originally a girl group, although a male member was added later. The group consisted of lead singer Brenda Reid, her husband Herb Rooney, Carolyn Johnson and Lillian Walker....
(and in the UK for Billie Davis
Billie Davis
Billie Davis is an English female singer who had hits in the 1960s, and is best remembered for the UK hit version of the song, "Tell Him" and "I Want You to Be My Baby" ....
).
In 1963 he linked up with songwriter and record producer Teddy Vann, who persuaded him to record a novelty version of the traditional children's nursery song "Loop de Loop" (also known as "Looby Lou"), using the name "Johnny Thunder". Vann also advised him to appeal more to the teenage market by claiming he was born in 1941 rather than his actual birth year of 1932. The record, released on the Diamond
Diamond Records
Diamond Records was a record label, based in New York City, which was founded in 1961 by former Roulette Records executive Joe Kolsky. Another Roulette exec Phil Kahl joined Kolsky in the venture the following year....
label, became a big hit, rising to no. 4 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 in early 1963; it was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
in the UK. Johnny Thunder released an album, Loop De Loop, and several follow-up singles, of which "Everybody Do The Sloopy" was the most successful, reaching no. 67 in late 1965. In 1967, he had another minor hit as part of a duo with Ruby Winters
Ruby Winters
Ruby Winters is an American female soul singer, whose records made the singles charts in both the US and UK in the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:...
on "Make Love To Me
Make Love to Me
- Mann/Weiss/Gannon song :With music by Paul Mann and Stephan Weiss, and lyrics by Kim Gannon, it was recorded in 1942 by Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra...
". Thereafter, he recorded for several labels, as both Johnny Thunder and Gil Hamilton, without repeating his success.
Since the 1960s, Johnny Thunder has continued to tour internationally, and has regularly appeared on luxury cruise ships in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and elsewhere.