"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is a Christmas novelty song written by John Coctoasten and performed by Gayla Peevey (11 years old at the time) in 1953. According to legend, she was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. This 1953 hit was recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo. When released nationally by Columbia Records the song shot to the top of the charts, and the city zoo got a baby hippo named Matilda.
It is a Dr. Demento Christmas staple, and is currently available on Dr. Demento's The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time Vol. 6: Christmas.
The B-side of the original 78 featured the song "Are my Ears on Straight?" Wikipedia
Gayla Peevey now says, "I live in San Diego, Ca. with my husband of 41 years. We have a grown daughter who is a staff songwriter for Disney. Her professional name is Sydney Forest. I graduated from San Diego State University, and got a teaching credential, but didn't like teaching, so I quit and went into advertising. I had my own cottage ad agency for about 15 years. I was a media buyer, wrote and produced a lot of jingles, radio spots, etc. Now, I am having a great time writing songs, painting (watercolor mostly), and reading books." Courtesy "TheTexanSundial.com"
I HAD ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THE SINGER. SHE CAN DOES HAVE AN ADULT VOCAL STYLE FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD. I TRIED FINDING THE B-SIDE SONG "ARE MY EARS ON STRAIGHT", BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO FIND IT ANYWHERE. ANYWAY, HERE'S THE SONG:
GAYLA PEEVEY -- "I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS" MP3
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