It Happened 50 Years Ago: Shirley Ellis “The Name Game”

New York City-born singer Shirley Ellis hit the Top 10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart three times in the mid-1960s, beginning with “The Nitty Gritty” in late 1963/early 1964 and continuing with “The Name Game” in late 1964/early 1965 and “The Clapping Song” in the spring of 1965. Of the three, Ellis’ biggest hit was “The Name Game,” which exactly 50 years ago, reached a peak position of number 3, where it would spend two weeks.