Jimmy Boyd Born:  January 9, 1940 Died:  March 7, 2009 Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960)

About The Artist Jimmy Boyd became a bit of a young teen age sensation when about the age of 13 he had the hit recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" that was released during the holiday season and 1952. Reportedly it sold more than 225,000 copies in less than two weeks. Jimmy is a native of McComb, Mississippi, but by 1953, his family and he were living in California. He got his start when he was just seven, singing western songs at local programs, school plays, social meetings and banquets. He was accompanied by his dad usually, who played guitar and harmonica. One of California's cowboy singers at the time, Texas Jim Lewis heard Jimmy's singing and took an immediate liking to him and had him sing with his show for over a year. Soon, his dad gave Jimmy guitar lessons so he could do his own guitar accompaniment. His brother, Kenneth, had some steel guitar expertise and together, the two of them would do appearances on the local radio and television stations. Jimmy then took part in a talent show that was on the Al Jarvis show, then a popular daily program in Hollywood over KLAC-TV. Jimmy won the contest and as part of his prize, won a week's worth of appearances that garned a lot of fan mail. That got him an appearance on the Frank Sinatra CBS television show. An article in 1953 quotes Jimmy as saying about Mr. Sinatra's singing, "He had a good voice—especially when he sings sorta a Western tune." Sinatra was said to have cracked after observing Jimmy go through the hectic nerve-wracking experience of television rehearsals rather non-chalantly, "Nervous, isn't he?" That appearance on the Sinatra show came with other offers in Hollywood, movies, television and the Columbia recording contract that led to his recording his hit holiday tune. The flip side of that holiday tune was a song called "Thumbelina" from the film that was out at the time, "Hans Christian Anderson". Credits & Sources Country Song Roundup No. 23; April 1953; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Columbia Rec. No. Side Song Title   21571 A Rockin' Down The Mississippi   21571 B Crazy Mixed Up Blues   39696 A God's Little Candles   39696 B Owl Lullaby   39733 A Little Train A Chuggin' In My Heart   39733 B Needle In, Needle Out   39871 A I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus   39871 B Thumbellina   39927 A Early Bird   39927 B I'll Stay In The House   39955 A Two Easter Sunday Sweethearts   39955 B My Bunny And My Sister Sue   40007 A Playmates   40007 B Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy   40049 A God Bless Us All   40049 B Marco, The Polo Pony   40069 A Poor Little Piggy Bank (w/Frankie Laine)   40069 B Let's Go Fishing (w/Frankie Laine)   40070 A Santa Claus Is Coming To Town   40070 B I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus   40071 A Here Comes Santa Claus   40071 B Winter Wonderland   40072 A Silent Night   40072 B Frosty The Snowman   40073 A Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer   40073 B Little Match Girl   40080 A Santa Got Stuck In The Chimney   40138 A I've Got Those Wake Up . . Blues   40138 B Jelly On My Head   40181 A Little Bonnie Bunny   40181 B Jimmy Roll Me Gently   40218 B I'm So Glad   40253 A Shepherd Boy   40253 B Ma I Miss Your Apple Pie   40305 A Little White Duck   40305 B Little Sir Echo   40366 A I Saw Mommy Do The Mambo   40366 B Santa Claus Blues   40504 A I Want A Haircut With A Moon On Top   40504 B How Come   40601 A Reindeer Rock   40601 B A Kiss For Christmas   40756 A Little Dog   40756 B Don't Forget To Say Your Prayers   40881 A Gonna' Take My Baby On A Hayride   40881 B I Wanna' Go Steady   90174 A I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus   90174 B Thumbelina   RCA Victor Rec. No. Side Song Title   20-4263 A Boogie Woogie Square Dance   20-4263 B Texas Moon Waltz