03-11-2023, 10:18 PM
Jerrold Samuels (May 3, 1938 – March 10, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.[1] Under the pseudonym Napoleon XIV, he achieved one-hit wonder status with the Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" in 1966.[1] Samuels occasionally revisited the Napoleon XIV character to record other songs, usually comedy records with an insanity theme.
Under the name Scott David (his son's name), he co-wrote "As If I Didn't Know" with Larry Kusik, a top 10 hit for Adam Wade in 1961. Samuels also wrote "The Shelter of Your Arms", a top 20 hit for Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964.
Samuels began his recording career in 1956 when he cut the single "Puppy Love"/"The Chosen Few" for the Vik Records subsidiary of RCA Victor Records.[2] In 1966, Samuels concocted "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" while working at Associated Recording Studios in New York. The public found out his true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC revealed his name. The record quickly climbed the charts, reaching the Top Ten nationally in just its third week on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 3 and sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] In the Cash Box Top 100 the record even climbed to No. 1 for one week in its second week on the charts.
The success of the single inspired a Warner Bros. album of the same name in 1966 (reissued by Rhino in 1985), most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example: "Bats In My Belfry" and "Split Level Head" which features different vocal parts in each stereo speaker.[1] A second single of two recordings from that album was relatively unnoticed. His manager was Leonard Stogel.
In his later years, Samuels worked as a singer and agent who booked various performers. He worked in the Delaware Valley area.
Samuels died on March 10, 2023, at the age of 84.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_XIV
No, I am not going to give you a video of that dreadful song, Mental illness isn't funny.
Under the name Scott David (his son's name), he co-wrote "As If I Didn't Know" with Larry Kusik, a top 10 hit for Adam Wade in 1961. Samuels also wrote "The Shelter of Your Arms", a top 20 hit for Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964.
Samuels began his recording career in 1956 when he cut the single "Puppy Love"/"The Chosen Few" for the Vik Records subsidiary of RCA Victor Records.[2] In 1966, Samuels concocted "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" while working at Associated Recording Studios in New York. The public found out his true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC revealed his name. The record quickly climbed the charts, reaching the Top Ten nationally in just its third week on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 3 and sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] In the Cash Box Top 100 the record even climbed to No. 1 for one week in its second week on the charts.
The success of the single inspired a Warner Bros. album of the same name in 1966 (reissued by Rhino in 1985), most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example: "Bats In My Belfry" and "Split Level Head" which features different vocal parts in each stereo speaker.[1] A second single of two recordings from that album was relatively unnoticed. His manager was Leonard Stogel.
In his later years, Samuels worked as a singer and agent who booked various performers. He worked in the Delaware Valley area.
Samuels died on March 10, 2023, at the age of 84.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_XIV
No, I am not going to give you a video of that dreadful song, Mental illness isn't funny.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.