"A Classic song for a New Generation"
In 1958 - 65 years ago, Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S Army and a 17 Year old Chan Romero wrote a song...Song that was going to become one of the most influential Rock and Roll songs of all times - HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE!
Born to Mexican parents in Billings, MT, Romero began performing in the late '50s. The success of trailblazing Latino rocker Ritchie Valens impressed him deeply, spurring him to pen "Hippy Hippy Shake," an up-tempo rocker modeled on Valens.
Romero's career skyrocketed with the release of "Hippy Hippy Shake" in July 1959 for the Del-Fi Records. Released first in the United States and later in Australia and in the UK, it soon came to the attention of the young McCartney who loved the song and sang it at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and the Star Club in Hamburg during those early years of The Beatles. The 1964 version by The Swinging Blue Jeans hit number one across Europe. Romero toured U.S, Canada and Australia with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Romero did record some other respectable sides for Del-Fi which, like Valens, saw him alternating raucous rockers with ballads. Del-Fi went as far as to have Romero record with the same musicians as Valens had. And Chan reminded Valens' mother of her late son so much that he stayed in her home for several months.
Hippy Hippy Shake has been featured in numerous movies such as: Cocktail with Tom Cruise, Angels in the Outfield, X-men, Austin Powers...
Fast forward to this century, music manager Manuel Montoya from Palm Springs, California hears Zelimir's single JUDY, ft. Albert Lee and suggests a meeting between Zelimir and Chan. That meeting leads to " Guys having a great time around Palm Springs", developing new friendships and a collaboration on the brand new duet. A recording of Hippy Hippy Shake is re-born and for the first time since 1958, Chan records the song again...The song produced by Zelimir, and recorded by Nashville's superstars musicians gets a brand new sound. New, modern and edgy country/rock feel.
In 2016 and 2017 Zelimir and Marian Aas Hansen brought Chan to Norway to be a part of their "Made in America Show". Chan was also a special guest on Marian & Zelimir's album "Made in America". History continues and we're super proud to be a part of that musical journey.
Now, remember the part where we said "The guys having fun around Palm Springs, California" ?
Well, here is the Music Video documenting all that.
Without any further ado, we present you the Hippy Hippy Shake 2023 Official Music Video with Chan Romero & ZELIMIR.
We hope you will enjoy the video the way we do ❤️
1) Thanks to Rajko Tolic and Manuel Montoya for organizing and supervising Zelimir's visit to America.
2) Parts of Chan Romero's biography used in this text borrowed from Wikipedia and Apple Music's writer Richie Unterberger
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