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Eddie Cooley And The Dimples

“Priscilla”

(EDDIE COOLEY)

Royal Roost 621

No. 20    November 24, 1955

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Eddie was a New York City songwriter.  He is known for only one song, “Fever”–a tune that he co-wrote

with Otis Blackwell and that was played with by a multitude though popularized by Little Willie John,

Peggy Lee, and the McCoys.   Cooley also concoct­ed “Priscilla,” and legend has it that he liked the song

so much that he and three unnamed ladies (the Dimples) recorded the tune for Royal Roost Records.

 Judging from the sound of “Priscilla,” it seems like Cooley might have been a true rarity: a black man

with rocka­billy roots–or maybe it was all meant as a demo recording to be covered by some southern

rock’n’roller.

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In the late ’80s, Blackwell laid claim to writing “Priscilla.”  “Priscilla is a comic book character,”

Black­well told the authors of The Songwriter Speaks.  “I read a lot of comic books ’cause at the time I

wanted to be a cartoonist; ’til my eyes went really bad on me.  Comic book titles would give me an idea.

I used to read them not for the story, but for the ideas about love.  Then I’d add a little country bit to it.

They gave me a sense of direction.  [That ‘Priscilla’] she was a bad little broad, too!”

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Despite its chart status, “Priscilla” remains one of the least played of all hits from the ’50s.  And Cooley,

whose name is difficult to locate in the annals of pop history, continues to live in obscurity.   Eddie Cooley

made–at the least–three more singles–“A Spark Met a Flame,” “Hey You,” and “Leona”–before his ride

into the dark shadows.