inktober52: hoop

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Ross Bagdasarian was a pretty ambitious guy. In 1939, 20-year old Ross co-wrote the song “Come On-a My House” with his cousin, author William Saroyan. After shopping the song around , it became a million-selling hit for ingenue Rosemary Clooney. It reach number one on the Billboard charts and launched Clooney’s career.

Ross also was a budding actor, appearing on Broadway in in films like Viva Zapata!, Rear Window and Stalag 17. He released a novelty song called “The Trouble with Harry,” in 1955, inspired by the popular Alfred Hitchcock film. The record was credited to Alfi & Harry, although it was just Ross.

After signing a contract with fledgling record label Liberty Records, Ross was encouraged to change his name, as executives deemed his Armenian surname unpronounceable. He chose “Dave Seville,” taking the name from a Spanish city when he was stationed while serving in the US Army. With a new name, he released the novelty tune “Witch Doctor” in 1958. He created the unusual vocals by playing around with the speed controls on a tape recorder which he purchased for $200. The song reached number one and established Ross (as Dave) as a celebrity.

Later in 1958, he created the Chipmunks, using the same accelerated vocals he used on “Witch Doctor.” He released “The Chipmunk Christmas Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” just in time for the 1958 holiday season. It, too, hit number one and sold over four million copies. He took home three awards at the first ever Grammy Awards presentation. An article in Life magazine noted Ross as the first person in popular music to serve as writer, composer, publisher, conductor and multiple vocalist of a hit record. In the following years, the Chipmunk’s popularity increased with records and a network cartoon show. They even poked fun at the British Invasion on a 1964 album The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits.

In his personal life, Ross owned a grape vineyard and supplied product to Ernest and Julio Gallo Wineries.

Ross passed away from a heart attack in 1972 at the age of 52. He passed his lucrative empire on to his children. His son, Los Angeles attorney Ross Bagdasarian Jr, continues to run the company and hold a tight leash on creativity and licensing of the beloved Chipmunk characters.

But, Alvin still wants a hula hoop.

 

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DCS: kenyatta jones

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potential unfulfilled

Kenyatta Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2001 NFL Draft. He was chosen in the fourth round based on his on-field performance at the University South Florida.

Kenyatta started in eleven games for the Pats, until he was placed on the “Physically Unable to Perform” list at the beginning of the 2003 season.  While inactive, he was arrested and charged with allegedly throwing hot tea on his cousin as the result of a disagreement. Kenyatta was released by the Patriots five days later.

In 2008, he was recruited by Arena Football team Tampa Bay Storm. Just after his signing, Kenyatta was arrested outside a Tampa nightclub after attempting to urinate on the dance floor and then shoving the off-duty police officer who threw Jones out of the club. Jones was arrested for battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Kenyatta disappeared from the spotlight for nearly ten years, resurfacing in the headlines only after his mother announced that Kenyatta passed away from cardiac arrest at the age of 39.

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DCS: bernadette carroll

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In 1959, 14-year old Bernadette Carroll joined up with Lynda Malzone and sisters Barbara and Jiggs Allbut to form The Starlets. They made a few recordings for a small record label but, soon disbanded, leaving the door open for Bernadette’s solo career.

Under the guidance of music impresario Bob Gaudio, Bernadette recorded several singles, including “My Heart Stood Still.” The song did not chart nationally, buy it did register at Number 4 on a year end survey conducted by radio station WHYN 560 AM in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Bernadette became a popular back-up vocalist for national acts like Connie Francis, Patty Duke and Frankie Valli. She can be heard (along with Denise Ferri and Peggy Santiglia) backing up Lou Christie on his chart-topping hits “Lightning Strikes” and “Rhapsody in the Rain.”

In 1968, Bernadette reunited with her former Starlets bandmates, this time as The Angels. She toured with the group for a year.

Bernadette passed away at her Florida home in October 2018 at the age of 74.

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DCS: karen morton

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Nineteen-year-old Karen Morton was walking through the produce section of Vons Supermarket in Toluca Lake, California. She had accompanied her grandmother on a shopping trip. A man approached them and asked young Karen if she’d be interested in auditioning for Playboy. He handed over a business card, smiled and walked off. Some time later, Karen’s grandmother called her granddaughter and sternly asked, “Have you called those people back yet? Elaine did!” (Karen’s cousin Elaine Morton was Playboy Magazine’s “Miss June” in 1970.) On her grandmother’s prompt, Karen called. She became Playboy’s “Miss July” in 1978.

In 1982, through personal connections in the music business, Karen was cast as the titular “Jenny” in the music video for Tommy Tutone’s new wave hit 867-5309.” The video was in constant rotation in MTV. She was tagged for other videos, including songs by Van Halen and guitarist Moon Martin.

Karen was an in-demand model, representing a wide variety of companies, including Levis, Clairol and a number of products for the Japanese market. She attended events at Hugh Hefner‘s Playboy Mansion, where she rubbed elbows with the likes of Billy Idol, Muhammad Ali and Clint Eastwood.

In 2004, after experiencing discomfort while hiking, Karen was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare skin disease. Early symptoms of SJS mimic the flu, but soon manifest as painful skin blisters. In Karen’s case, she developed a rash that severely affected the skin surrounding her eyes. She withdrew from public life. Her skin was regularly treated in the same manner as a burn victim. Karen had a number of surgeries and eventually lost her eyesight. She passed away from the disease in 2014 at the age of 55.

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DCS: dernell stenson

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While playing in the outfield for his high school baseball team, Dernell Stenson attracted the attention of a scout from the Boston Red Sox. He was selected in the 1996 MLB draft and quickly worked through the ranks of the minor leagues. After four seasons with the Red Sox Triple-A team, Dernall signed a minor league contract with the Chattanooga Lookouts and was called up to the Cincinnati Reds in the late summer of 2003. He appeared in 37 games for the Reds, playing the outfield. Dernell tallied 3 homeruns and 13 RBIs in his 81 appearances at the plate.

At the end of the 2003 season, Dernell signed with the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League in hopes of improving his baseball skills.

In November 2003, Dernell was involved in, what was initially believed to be, a carjacking. However, investigation uncovered something more elaborate. Dernell was discovered bound and shot several times in the head and chest. Then, he was run over by his own SUV. Four men were ultimately arrested and three were implemented in various crimes, among them first-degree murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. The men had followed Dernell out of a Scottsdale nightclub, with designs on stealing his car. Charges against the fourth man were dropped when it revealed that he was a protected federal witness who had once testified against a Chicago gang. The ringleader of Dernell’s murder was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Dernell Stenson was 25 years old. His uniform number was retired by the Chattanooga Lookouts.

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DCS: walter collins

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On March 10, 1928, Christine Collins gave her 9-year old son Walter some money to go to the movies. When he didn’t return long after the show was over, she contacted the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police followed hundreds of dead-end leads and conducted extensive searches that eventually spread nationwide. Five months after Walter’s disappearance, police in DeKalb, Illinois picked up a twelve-year old runaway boy who claimed to be Walter Collins. LA Police Captain J.J. Jones, feeling the pressure of solving the case, told Mrs. Collins that they had located her son in Illinois and she would have to pay transportation costs to bring his home. She agreed. At the reunion, however, Mrs. Collins was skeptical and finally said that the boy was not Walter. A frustrated Captain Jones persuaded her to “try the boy out” by taking him home. Mrs. Collins did so reluctantly.

After three weeks, Mrs. Collins returned to the police and stood firm on her belief that this boy was not her son. She offered to produce dental records to back up her claim. Captain Jones grew furious. He accused her of being a bad mother and of trying to bring ridicule to the LA Police. He had her committed to the Los Angeles County Hospital under a “Code 12” — a term used to incarcerate someone who was deemed difficult or an inconvenience.

While Mrs. Collins was in the hospital, Captain Jones requestioned the boy… who finally admitted to being Arthur Hutchens Jr. He confessed that he lied about being Walter Collins as a ploy to get to Los Angeles to meet his favorite actor, cowboy star Tom Mix. Arthur Hutchens was sent back to Illinois and Mrs. Collins was released… ten days later.

Christine Collins sued the Los Angeles Police Department as well as lodging a separate suit against Captain J.J. Jones. She won, but Jones refused to pay.

In 1929, serial killer Gordon Northcott was found guilty of murdering three boys in the Los Angeles area the previous year. Although Sara Northcott, Gordon’s mother and accomplice in the murders, confessed to killing Walter, Gordon denied it. Gordon Northcott was executed at San Quentin Prison in 1930.

Walter’s fate was never confirmed.

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