Dancing Queen
Winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with "Waterloo" propelled Sweden's ABBA onto the world stage. They had nine #1 hits in the U.K. but only one on The Billboard Hot 100: "Dancing Queen." The world still loves ABBA after almost 50 years and "Dancing Queen" is a global favorite, appearing in the stage musical and motion picture "Mamma Mia!" and as one of the highlights of their virtual stage show in London, "Voyage."
Come Softly To Me
Gretchen Christopher and Barbara Ellis formed a singing duo, the Saturns, when they were in high school in Olympia, Washington. Looking for a blues trumpet player, they found Gary Troxel, who proved to be better at singing than playing the trumpet. Gretchen composed the music and lyrics to her original song "Come Softly" and arranged it in counterpoint to the street corner humming ("dum dum, dum doo dum") of Gary Troxel, as he walked her downtown, after school (for her scholarship dance classes at Olympia Academy of Theatrical Arts, where she also rehearsed as a Soloist with the Olympia Ballet Company). The Fleetwoods were signed to a new label, Dolphin, and were named after a local telephone exchange, FLeetwood. Label owner Bob Reisdorff changed the title to the less-suggestive "Come Softly To Me."
It's Too Late
Being such a big fan of Carole King's songwriting, I interviewed her for my college newspaper, the Daily Sundial. She took a break from recording an album at A&M in Hollywood and we met in an office there. I asked her about the album she was making and she told me she didn't want to be a star, the album was just her way of getting her demos to other artists. A few months later the album was released and it was titled "Tapestry."
I Will Follow Him
Little Peggy March
Peggy March was 15 years and one month old when "I Will Follow Him" went to #1, making her the youngest female to ever top The Billboard Hot 100, a record she still holds today after 58 years.
It's My Party
Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore was 16 when she had her first paying gig at the Prince George Hotel in Manhattan. Mercury Records staff producer Quincy Jones caught her act and she was signed to the label, In February 1963, Jones drove to Lesley's home in Tenafly, N.J. with 250 demos. The first one he played for her was "It's My Party." She recorded it on March 30 at Bell Sound in New York. Three days after her 17th birthday the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 and three weeks later it was No. 1.