Radio DJ in northeast PA here. A few years ago, I had the honor of intervieing band member Jerry Zolten about this tune. Here is part of the feature: Let's travel back to 1968 and 1969, when four friends who met while attending Penn State University got together to form a band... but not exactly the band you're going to hear. They were called “The New Old Time Wooly Thumpers” and they featured more of a folksy type of music, but according to band member Jerry Zolten, they intended to be the next Beatles. Flash forward to a gig in New York City at the famed “Bitter End.” This was at the height of the bubblegum music craze and the band introduces a parody song, asking the audience to consider what the next bubblegum hit might sound like. They played “I Can't Wait To Put The Ring Around My Rosie” and the crowd loved it, including producer Paul Levinson who took the band to a studio to record it. You’re hearing Jerry Zolten on rhythm guitar, Peter Schwimmer on a guitar tuned to sound like a banjo - listen for it in the middle of the song - Frank Seagall on bass and featuring David Fox, whom Zolten says is like a chameleon with his voice ranging from a Beatle sound to this - an obvious parody. “I Cant Wait To Put The Ring Around My Rosie” hit #4 locally in northeastern Pennsylvania and did well in some other markets. The band had one request of the record company - not to use the Wooly Thumpers name - and so was born “Protozoa.” Zolten is now Dr. Jerry Zolten, PhD and is an Associate Professor of Communications at Penn State. He says that the Vietnam war draft was what broke up the group. Who knows, they may actually have been the next Beatles. Zolten has authored papers and books about music, including “Great God A'mighty! The Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating The Rise Of Soul Gospel Music” and was awarded “Best Research Recorded Blues And Gospel” in 2004. One more note, the Wooly Thumpers opened for Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company when they played at Penn State. My sincere thanks to Jerry Zolten and David Fox, who share my love for local music. David, I see you've been in this discussion. The reason I feature the tune in the first place was a wonderful memory of it playing on the radio as a young boy. Thank you for the tune and the memories!
Thanks Mike! I have actually read this interview before, it was the only information me and my bubblegum cohort could find! Still hoping to interview Joey Levine before it's too late! LMK if u have any information!
@@DavidFoxMusic what an unexpected treat to see this message! Dr Ray and I played in a band together, and as he mentioned in his comment to you, this song was one of our absolute favourites of the bubblegum genre, so much so that we alluded to it in one of our own bubblegum songs! Such a fun song--it never fails to bring a smile to my face! I hope you do reach out to Mark, we're all big fans and I'm interested in what results when he picks your brain a little bit. Cheers!!!
@@DavidFoxMusic WOW! This just made my day! Mr. Fox I am a huge fan, my cohort and I are huge bubblegum fans and this maybe our favorite bubblegum song ever! I would love to correspond via email with you, I have many questions I'd like to ask you! We actually had a band that mentions this song and your band in one of our songs! I would love to send it to you. My email is mmcwhirter1@gmail.com - Looking forward to hearing back from you! Thanks!
Radio DJ in northeast PA here. A few years ago, I had the honor of intervieing band member Jerry Zolten about this tune. Here is part of the feature: Let's travel back to 1968 and 1969, when four friends who met while attending Penn State University got together to form a band... but not exactly the band you're going to hear. They were called “The New Old Time Wooly Thumpers” and they featured more of a folksy type of music, but according to band member Jerry Zolten, they intended to be the next Beatles. Flash forward to a gig in New York City at the famed “Bitter End.” This was at the height of the bubblegum music craze and the band introduces a parody song, asking the audience to consider what the next bubblegum hit might sound like. They played “I Can't Wait To Put The Ring Around My Rosie” and the crowd loved it, including producer Paul Levinson who took the band to a studio to record it. You’re hearing Jerry Zolten on rhythm guitar, Peter Schwimmer on a guitar tuned to sound like a banjo - listen for it in the middle of the song - Frank Seagall on bass and featuring David Fox, whom Zolten says is like a chameleon with his voice ranging from a Beatle sound to this - an obvious parody. “I Cant Wait To Put The Ring Around My Rosie” hit #4 locally in northeastern Pennsylvania and did well in some other markets. The band had one request of the record company - not to use the Wooly Thumpers name - and so was born “Protozoa.” Zolten is now Dr. Jerry Zolten, PhD and is an Associate Professor of Communications at Penn State. He says that the Vietnam war draft was what broke up the group. Who knows, they may actually have been the next Beatles. Zolten has authored papers and books about music, including “Great God A'mighty! The Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating The Rise Of Soul Gospel Music” and was awarded “Best Research Recorded Blues And Gospel” in 2004. One more note, the Wooly Thumpers opened for Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company when they played at Penn State. My sincere thanks to Jerry Zolten and David Fox, who share my love for local music. David, I see you've been in this discussion. The reason I feature the tune in the first place was a wonderful memory of it playing on the radio as a young boy. Thank you for the tune and the memories!
Thanks Mike! I have actually read this interview before, it was the only information me and my bubblegum cohort could find! Still hoping to interview Joey Levine before it's too late! LMK if u have any information!
Man this is GREAT BUBBLEGUM.
Glad you like it, Kenny. I wrote and recorded this in 1969.
Best vid on RUclips
Well, I don't know about that, Stranger... but it's a fun song I wrote and recorded back in 1969.
@@DavidFoxMusic what an unexpected treat to see this message! Dr Ray and I played in a band together, and as he mentioned in his comment to you, this song was one of our absolute favourites of the bubblegum genre, so much so that we alluded to it in one of our own bubblegum songs! Such a fun song--it never fails to bring a smile to my face! I hope you do reach out to Mark, we're all big fans and I'm interested in what results when he picks your brain a little bit. Cheers!!!
wow
wow this is incredible
@@barbaquebells2574 Glad you like it.. I wrote and recorded this in 1969.
@@DoctorRazzArea4 Not sure where you found this, Dr. Ray... but I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a blast from my distant past.
@@DavidFoxMusic WOW! This just made my day! Mr. Fox I am a huge fan, my cohort and I are huge bubblegum fans and this maybe our favorite bubblegum song ever! I would love to correspond via email with you, I have many questions I'd like to ask you! We actually had a band that mentions this song and your band in one of our songs! I would love to send it to you. My email is mmcwhirter1@gmail.com - Looking forward to hearing back from you! Thanks!
Rosie and her sister