Dee Dee Phelps

9 Responses to “About Dee Dee Phelps”

1. on 02 Aug 2007 at 6:53 pm1Kelly Watts

   I had the pleaseure of interviewing Dee Dee twice on my “Class Reunion”, what a wonderful lady and great tallent. Her book the vinyl highway triggered many memories for me of growing up in the 50’s and 60’s.

2. on 22 Aug 2007 at 3:26 pm2wisedup

   You said: “so now, Let’s write”…oh my, I can fill your blog..lol. Music and Art haved filled my life and I did both. The “blueheat band”, commerical artist, car pinstriper,air brush artist…(click on ‘wisedup’ on U-Tube) for a small sample of both. I’VE HAD A BALL….sure some gut shots,but I recovered…but I would like to talk about ‘Dick and Dee Dee’ for now. In 1963 I went down on Highland St. in Hollywood and made 2 demo records at ‘Teron’ records. (Terry and Ron,wasn’t that cute..lol) I wanted just to be a songwriter. I got their attention,but didn’t know diddly about the cuthroat record business. Buck Ram, (mgr.of the Platters) and a…..blank out…the girl who did “Walk on By”…Oh..I just remembered..Dion Warwick..her producer liked my song..BUT….would ‘take it’ with NO writers money just so I could get known. I said no. The song was “Big Brother”, and I played the piano and guitar was a cheep-o with no name on it..lol. They put me in the BATHROOM to create a echo sound..lol. That was the end of my writing try for the time being. I went to another demo lady,who handled the ‘Troggs’ and had a little hit called “Underwater’..lol. She wanted me to make demos but do it her way..bla bla bla. Demo’s cost $35 in thoes days and I didn’t have much $. I made demos at home for Bob Vandergriff,who would come to my house and listen. Not ready yet he said, and he was right. Around that time I heard Dick and Dee Dee and loved his falsetto voice with Dee Dee’s. Richie Vallies falsetto was tops, but Dicks was so natural and not forced. Add that to Dee Dee’s super voice with it made me a fan. Dee Dee straightened me out with the ‘Peanutbutter’ song..the ‘Newbeats’…I just ‘asumed’ it was Dick.
   The ‘Beach Boys’….my neighbor asked my wife and I to go on a hay truck ride and sing Christmas Carols around Brentwood. One of the people he invited was Bruce Johnston..later with the beach boys. He was a background singer for Capitol records. He was so arrigant nobody could stand him. Brag,brag,brag. Every group we liked, he poo pooed them, including the Beach Boys. He wanted to sing “Happy Birthday Jesus”…but we stopped him. I guess he had to EAT thoes words after they brought him in to the Beach Boys…lol. No, I won’t repeat what he said about them…then. Ok Dee Dee, how about ‘more later’ if you approve. Wisedup.

3. on 16 Oct 2007 at 4:31 pm3Richard Astley-Clemas

   My only link with the music business is that 50s country singer Ginny Wright is my penfriend-now best friend I stayed twice with her in Georgia. She had hit singles in the early 50s and was at the Hayride the night Elvis appeared-he was a minor country star she was No 1 on the country chart with her duet with Jim Reeves-I Love You.
   So together we put up her website 4 years ago-on Yahoo with over 160 members as well.She supplied all the photos showing her as a child up to more recent times.
   Eventually she left the business for personal reasons but thats another story.Anyway a Reeves fan in California made a CD ROM of all her recordings for 5 different labels and I make copies here in England.
   Actually we gave more away than sold and I sent one to another of my penfriends David Godard of the Aquatones-recently reformed and with new stuff as well. The least I could do after he kindly sent me a promo CD of the 40 Years of the Aquatones.
   (Maybe Dave needs to write a book as he was the Aquatones historian!)
   Since then HE has been in touch with Ginny-and I like to think I’ve brought 2 totally different musical fields together.Both being now aware of the others’ music he joined Ginny’s website and its going great.
   You actually end up working for your favorite singer and I describe my profession as “English manager of the Ginny Wright website” because SHE is the Moderator I’m just a member

4. on 08 Jan 2008 at 7:58 pm4Curtis Carroll

   Hello Dee Dee!
   Just discovered your site today. I was twelve when “The Mountain’s High” was released and always treasured the song. It was one of a 100 or so songs I’d call my own. One of those deeply personal and special songs I’d stay way past my bedtime, ear glued to my 6-transistor and under-the-covers, to hear.
   My wife and I had a large Christmas party a couple weeks ago and I recorded 150 songs on an MP3, to shuffle through the long evening. TMH was one. You wouldn’t believe how people ourage came to attention when it came on. I downloaded a real clean copy and it’s thrilling to hear it in full-fidelity stereo. Exploring Youtube, I discovered that “Turn Around” was your’s too. Another song I liked but had nearly forgotten. By the way, I didn’t know Dick had such a refined falsetto…right up there with Lou Christie and Frankie Valli. You should be very proud of your contributions to our culture. Well-crafted pop is much hard to do than it seems and you and Dick had the chops. Thank you. I’ll be getting your book soon.

5. on 15 Apr 2008 at 9:32 pm5kevin vandine

   will you be comimg to hawaii any time soon?

6. on 15 Apr 2008 at 9:33 pm6kevin vandine

   hope so!!!!!

7. on 07 May 2008 at 11:46 pm7Bob Vargo

   Loved your music from the 60’s. High school days in Southern California would not have been the same without them. Keep ‘em coming!!

8. on 10 Nov 2008 at 4:19 pm8Stu Charter

   Hi DeeDee,
   I just wanted to tell you that Mountain’s High was the song in the year I married and it will forever remain one of the greatest love songs I know.

   best of luck -

9. on 15 Nov 2008 at 9:20 pm9bill patterson

   you two were the best………. I only wish you made more. what great voices , and songs you had.. tell me, especially. It brings back very special memories to me !!!!!!!!!!!
   thank you,so much. BILL

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