Ned Fairchild
Encyclopedia
Ned Fairchild is the pen name
of Nelda Fairchild (born August 26, 1929 in Burley, Idaho
) an American songwriter. Her best known work is the hit rock'n'roll hit "Twenty Flight Rock
".
She was an AMI staff songwriter who variously wrote and performed as Ned Fairchild and Sunny Bingo. Born Nelda Fairchild, she and her sister Teena (real name Ella) began performing at ages 4 and 5 as a sister act
on various radio shows. As teenagers living in Southern California
, they worked regularly and were cast members on Foreman Phillips' musical variety show
in Compton, California
. By the 1950s, Sunny and Teena were appearing as The Southern Belles, appearing on Town Hall Party
with Merle Travis
and other early TV music stars. Travis introduced Nelda to AMI President Irv Cross
, who made her a staff writer, one of a very few.
Her first marriage at age 15 in 1944 was to Jack B. Farnsworth. He fought in the South Pacific during World War II, was disabled by malaria, and came home a war hero. They divorced, leaving Nelda a single mother of a four-year-old son, Jack D. Farnsworth.
She met and married Richard “Bing” Bingo in 1950. Together they had two children, Jill and Frank, and Sunny’s song writing and poetry proliferated. She was often on the road selling her songs and singing in bars and lounges with a small band. Bing died in 2002. Her son, Jack, died in July, 2011.
In 2006 she published the autobiographical book Sing or Cry - My life in verse. Fairchild is the subject of a documentary due for release in 2008.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Nelda Fairchild (born August 26, 1929 in Burley, Idaho
Burley, Idaho
Burley is a city in Cassia and Minidoka counties in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 10,345 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Cassia County....
) an American songwriter. Her best known work is the hit rock'n'roll hit "Twenty Flight Rock
Twenty Flight Rock
"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy The Girl Can't Help It, and released as a single in 1957. Cochran's biographer notes Cochran was granted a co-writer credit, but no royalties, a standard ego-salving arrangement between publishers and...
".
She was an AMI staff songwriter who variously wrote and performed as Ned Fairchild and Sunny Bingo. Born Nelda Fairchild, she and her sister Teena (real name Ella) began performing at ages 4 and 5 as a sister act
Sister Act
Sister Act is a 1992 American comedy film released by Touchstone Pictures. Directed by Emile Ardolino, it features musical arrangements by Marc Shaiman and stars Whoopi Goldberg as a Reno lounge singer who has been put under protective custody in a San Francisco convent and has to pretend to be a...
on various radio shows. As teenagers living in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, they worked regularly and were cast members on Foreman Phillips' musical variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
in Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. By the 1950s, Sunny and Teena were appearing as The Southern Belles, appearing on Town Hall Party
Town Hall Party
Town Hall Party was an American country music radio and television show broadcast over KXLA-AM, Pasadena, California, KFI-AM, Los Angeles, California, and KTTV-TV. The first radio broadcast was in the autumn of 1951.Promoter William B...
with Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
and other early TV music stars. Travis introduced Nelda to AMI President Irv Cross
Irv Cross
Irvin Acie "Irv" Cross is a former professional American football cornerback and sportscaster.-Playing career:Cross was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft. In 1966 he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Then in 1969, he returned to the Eagles and became...
, who made her a staff writer, one of a very few.
Her first marriage at age 15 in 1944 was to Jack B. Farnsworth. He fought in the South Pacific during World War II, was disabled by malaria, and came home a war hero. They divorced, leaving Nelda a single mother of a four-year-old son, Jack D. Farnsworth.
She met and married Richard “Bing” Bingo in 1950. Together they had two children, Jill and Frank, and Sunny’s song writing and poetry proliferated. She was often on the road selling her songs and singing in bars and lounges with a small band. Bing died in 2002. Her son, Jack, died in July, 2011.
In 2006 she published the autobiographical book Sing or Cry - My life in verse. Fairchild is the subject of a documentary due for release in 2008.
Songs written by Ned Fairchild
- "Twenty Flight Rock" performed by Eddie CochranEddie CochranEddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
- "Freddie the Little Fir Tree" (Ned Fairchild/Merle TravisMerle TravisMerle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
) performed by Gene AutryGene AutryOrvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s... - "I Took Him From You" performed by the DeJohn Sisters
- "Too in Love" (Ned Fairchild/Merle Travis) performed by Hank ThompsonHank ThompsonHank Thompson may refer to:*Hank Thompson *Hank Thompson , country music singer and songwriter...
- "Since You Said Goodbye"