Shirley Ellis
Soul / pop singer and songwriter Shirley Ellis – born Shirley Marie O’Garra on
January 19, 1929, in The Bronk, New York City – is best known for her novelty
hits “The Nitty Gritty” (1963), “The Name Game” (1964), and “The Clapping Song”
(1965). Signed to Congress Records, Shirley Ellis scored a hit with her first
single, 1963’s “The Nitty Gritty,” which hit number 8 on the Hot 100 and number
4 on the R&B Singles chart. However, the song’s sequel, “(That’s) What the Nitty
Gritty Is” (1964) made the Top 100 but didn’t come close to matching the success
of the original. She released...
