This is obviously a copy of the Buddy Holly sound but (or possibly because of this) I liked it anyway. The shuffle rhythm reminds me of early Jamaican ska.
Ersel Hickey (1934-2004) was from Brighton, New York. He had a tough childhood: his father died when he was four and his mother had a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized, leaving Hickey and his seven siblings to be brought up in a succession of foster homes.
Hickey started touring as a rock and roll musician in 1954. In 1957, Phil Everly told him that he should write his own material; that evening, he went home and wrote "Bluebirds Over The Mountain". (As if it was always that easy!) His recording of this only reached #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 but did much better in Canada, reaching #8 (as it did in Toronto).
Hickey didn't have any other chart successes, though he kept plugging away, releasing singles in four different decades. His other claim to fame was writing "Don't Let The Rain Come Down", which The Serendipity Singers turned into a hit.
"Bluebirds Over The Mountain" was recorded by Ronnie Hawkins in 1965 and became a hit in Canada, reaching #5 on the CHUM chart. The Beach Boys (without Brian Wilson) recorded a version of this song in 1968, featuring uncharacteristic lead guitar by their touring guitarist, Ed Carter; it only made it to #61 on the Billboard chart.
Created January 29, 2026.