The Chipmunks

Alvin, Simon & Thedore first topped the Hit Parade during
the Christmas season of 1958 with “The Chipmunk Song.” For
more than a dozen years they were a favorite of radio
programmers and fans at Christmas time.

Created by Ross Bagdasarian, who under the name of David
Seville had previously topped the charts in 1958 with “Witch
Doctor,” the Chipmunks where named after Liberty Records
executives Al Bennett, Si Warnoker and engineer Ted Keep.
The Chipmunks' voices were recorded onto audiotape by
singing at half the normal speed. When the tape was played
back at double speed, they would sound a full octive higher
in pitch, at normal tempo.

The Chipmunks starred in their own animated prime time
television and motion picture successes. With phenomenal
album sales, they achieved two Grammy Awards for the
threesome and a hit “Alvin’s Harmonica” in 1959.

At only 52 years of age, Ross Bagdasarian died of a heart attack
in 1972.