Nitty Gritty - Music

Shirley Ellis Shirley Marie O'Garra 19 January 1929 – 5 October 2005 Was An American Soul Music Singer And Songwriter Of Carribean Origin. She Is Best Known For Her Novelty Hits "The Nitty Gritty" 1963 US No. 8 "The Name Game" 1964 US No. 3 And "The Clapping Song" 1965 US No. 8 And UK No. 6 . "The Clapping Song" Sold Over One Million Copies And Was Awarded A Gold Disc. By 1954 She Had Written Two Songs Which Were Recorded By The Chords. Ellis Was Originally In The Group The Metronomes And She Went On To Marry The Lead Singer Alphonso Elliston. All Her Solo Hits Were Written By Her And Her Manager Record Producer And Songwriting Partner Lincoln Chase. Ellis Had Recording Contracts With The Kapp Records Subsidiary Congress And Later Columbia And Bell But Retired From The Music Industry In 1968. Shirley O'Garra Was Born To William H. And Petra Smith O'Garra On 19 January 1929 Though Her Social Security Card Shows 20 January 1927 . Her Father Was A Native Of Montserrat And Her Mother Was Born In The Bahamas. Shirley Had Three Full Siblings Joyce Bertram And William H Jr And Four Half Siblings Reginald Suzanne Joycelyn And Berbian. O'Garra Married Her Husband Arnold Alphonso Elliston 21 Oct 1929 - 23 Aug 2009 Professional Name Alphonso Elliston On 3 August 1949 In Florida. It Is Not Known If She Had Children. Cover Versions Of Her Hits Have Been Recorded By Madeline Bell The Belle Stars Laura Branigan Aaron Carter Gary Glitter Ricardo Ray Pia Zadora Southern Culture On The Skids Gladys Knight And The Pips A Version Of "The Nitty Gritty" Produced By Norman Whitfield As Well As A 1980s High Energy Dance Version Of The Name Game By Actor And Personality "Divine" Aka. Harris Glenn Milstead. In Addition Her Song "Soul Time" Was Sampled By The UK Band The Go! Team For Their Single "Bottle Rocket". read less