Gayla Peevey
Gayla Peevey – born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 8, 1943 – is a former child star and singer best known for the classic 1953 Christmas novelty hit “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”. She grew up in a religious household and began singing in church. Her musical career began at the age of 8 years old when her uncle, who played fiddle on a radio program in Oklahoma City, brought her to one of the shows to perform. Her appearance turned into a bi-weekly gig on the shows The Chuck Wagon Gang and The Boomer Shindig. She became a popular local television attraction and began to tour and perform. NBC moved Peevey and her family to Hollywood to perform as a regular on Saturday Night Review with Hoagy Carmichael. It was there that she signed a record deal with Columbia Records and released her debut single, “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas”. The single became a huge holiday hit in 1953 when she was only 10 years old. She released a further eight singles over the next five years, but none of them had the same success as her debut single. In 1959, at the age of 16, she began recording under the name Jamie Horton. Her most successful single under this pseudonym, “Robot Man”, was released in 1960. Her last release – under the Horton name – was the 1962 single “Go Shout It From a Mountain”. Peevey became a teacher and eventually moved into advertising, running her own company for 15 years.
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
Discography
18 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero)
Christmas Music - Released by Sony Music Entertainment on 1 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Children - Released by Esselunga Baby Child on 10 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (Hippo The Hero) (Sped + Slowed)
Christmas Music - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 1 Jan 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
I Wany a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Esselunga Commercial Spot)
Children - Released by Esselunga REc. on 11 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Christmas Music - Released by Christmas Records on 10 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bianco Natale
Children - Released by Christmas Records on 22 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wish I Wuz a Whisker
Pop - Released by JB Production on 1 Jan 1953
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Pop - Released by JB Production CH on 1 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Pop - Released by JB Production on 1 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Compilation)
Children - Released by JB Production on 18 Dec 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Are My Ears on Straight?
Pop - Released by JB Production on 31 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Angel in the Christmas Play
Pop - Released by JB Production on 14 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Got a Cold in the Node for Christmas
Pop - Released by JB Production on 14 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Daddy's Report Card
Pop - Released by JB Production on 16 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Christmas Music - Released by Milestones Records on 10 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo