George Rock

George Rock (October 11, 1919 – April 12, 1988) was a trumpet player and singer with various bands before starring with Spike Jones and His City Slickers.

For the Barbadian cricketer, see George Rock (cricketer).
Not to be confused with George Rocks.

A large man, he attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois on a football scholarship, before turning pro as a musician at the age of 20. His first national exposure was in the Freddie Fisher's Schnickelfritz Band. Working in Hollywood in 1944 he signed up with the Spike Jones Band.[1]

With Spike Jones and His Slickers he played lead trumpet, and also sang with the group, using a voice characterization that sounded remarkably like a child. He sang "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubble Gum," during the recording of which Jones addressed him as "George".

Rock also performed on several other recordings by Spike Jones and the City Slickers including "I'm the Captain of the Space Ship", "You Wanna Buy a Bunny?", "I'm the Angel in the Christmas Play", and "Happy New Year" (the flip side of "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth").

Rock also played trumpet on The Spike Jones Show on television in the late 1950s, including the 1958 NBC series Club Oasis.

Further reading
  • Young, Jordan R. (2005). Spike Jones Off the Record: The Man Who Murdered Music. (3rd edition) Albany: BearManor Media ISBN 1-59393-012-7.

References
  1. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-rock-mn0000737880/biography retrieved July 16, 2015


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