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'The Hokey Pokey' Songwriter Dies
Filed under: In The News
Robert Degen, who might have written the classic children's song, "The Hokey Pokey," died on Nov. 23 -- his 104th birthday.
While we're impressed by anyone who breaks the century mark, it's Degen's possible contribution to history that has us interested.
You probably never gave much thought to the origins of the "The Hokey Pokey." But there has been a lot of debate over just who first created the tune . (The children's song teaches kids right from left, which is a small price to pay for having it stuck in your head for days).
According to Degen's obituary in The New York Times, Larry LaPrise and his group the Ram Trio first recorded a song called "The Hokey Pokey" in the late 1940s. But Degen claimed that he had written a song called "The Hokey Pokey Dance" before that, and LaPrise had stolen it from him.
Degen sued LaPrise and the case was settled out of court. Degen's son, William, told the Times' Bruce Weber that "his father received regular royalty payments from Sony/ATV through his lawyer, Donald Lowry, and supplied a copy of a Sony/ATV check for $47,199.25 written to Mr. Lowry in March 2005." (Emphasis added.) Nice work -- if you can get it.
The Times obit notes that the song may have first appeared in the 18th century, "written by Puritans to mock the language of the Latin Mass." And you thought it was just something you heard at birthday parties.
When LaPrise died in April of 1996, there were a number of jokes that made the rounds via e-mail. They are so bad that we can't help repeating just one.
"The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started."
And now, in honor of Degan, here is five-year-old guitar player Wesley doing his rendition of "The Hokey Pokey."
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-07-2009 @ 2:36PM
ATrenner said...What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about??
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 4:42PM
C.T. Warren said...Besides being a best-selling bumper sticker, that question has become a terrific song recorded by the legendary Jimmy Buffett. If you pick up his 2002 album "Far Side Of The World", give the song a listen and I think you'll enjoy it. The philosophy of the lyrics may be true, perhaps life is far more simple than we make it out to be. Happy listening!
C.T.
12-07-2009 @ 4:51PM
expert said...That's what I'm secretly afraid of..................
12-07-2009 @ 2:59PM
SLBway said...There evidently was a problem at the mortuary. They had the casket open, they put his right foot in... and that's when the trouble started!
Reply
12-10-2009 @ 4:41PM
Dave said...Why didn't any of them go after Billy Ray Moron for plagiarism too? Try singing the lyrics to "Achy, Breaky Heart" to the music of the "Hokey-Pokey" and vice-versa.
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 4:23PM
ROLLANDO said...Sad to hear he has passed away. That was a cool song he wrote, "The Hokey Pokey!" My condolences to the man's family, friends and fans around the world. May his soul be in a happier place than Earth had ever been. Rest in peace!
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 4:40PM
KatieCouric'sNemesis said...And I hope that, whatever after life he is sent to, he is condemned to hear that bloody song for the rest of time.
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 5:58PM
a man said...I don't ever want to hear that "song" again!!!! I'm sorry that this guy died, but if that's all he could do with his life, then that is one sorry songwriter. And we're even sorrier for having it playing in our heads right now.
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 7:24PM
me said...its my understanding that once they got to the cemetary, they put his coffin in the grave, then they took it out , they put his coffin in the grave then they shook it all about when asked why, all they replied is " thats what its all about "
Reply
12-07-2009 @ 8:03PM
Jerry said...Now, if we could just get the guy who wrote "Chicken Polka" we'd be all set.
Reply