Eva Narcissus Boyd, known by her stage name Little Eva, was born on June 29, 1943, in Belhaven, North Carolina. She became an iconic figure in the music industry, best known for her 1962 hit single “The Loco-Motion.”
Little Eva moved to the Brighton Beach area of Brooklyn, New York, as a teenager. She worked as a maid and babysitter for the famous songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It was during this time that her unique dance moves and singing talent caught their attention. Inspired by her quirky dance style, King and Goffin wrote “The Loco-Motion” for her, initially as a demo. Music producer Don Kirshner of Dimension Records was impressed by the song and Little Eva’s performance, leading to its release.
“The Loco-Motion” quickly became a number-one hit in the United States in 1962, selling millions of copies and earning gold status. The song’s success catapulted Little Eva to stardom, and she became known for her energetic performances and distinctive voice. She followed up with other notable singles, including “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby,” “Let’s Turkey Trot,” and a remake of Bing Crosby’s “Swinging on a Star” with Big Dee Irwin.
Despite her initial success, Little Eva faced challenges in her career. She was often typecast as a novelty singer, limiting her musical opportunities. Additionally, she experienced personal struggles, including an abusive relationship that inspired the controversial song “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)” written by King and Goffin for The Crystals.
Little Eva’s commercial success waned after 1964, and she retired from the music industry in 1971. However, she made a comeback in the late 1980s following the success of Kylie Minogue’s cover of “The Loco-Motion.” She continued to perform live and occasionally recorded new songs until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2001.
Little Eva passed away on April 10, 2003, in Kinston, North Carolina, at the age of 59. Despite the challenges she faced, her contributions to the music industry and her iconic hit “The Loco-Motion” left a lasting legacy. She remains an inspiration to many, remembered for her talent, resilience, and the joy she brought to her fans through her music.
Sock Hop Saturday Night with Bruce Vasbinder
Saturday Nights at 8pm
Episode 710 Playlist
| Do You Wanna Dance? | Bobby Freeman |
| Maybe Baby | Buddy Holly |
| Rock Me | The Nutmegs |
| Rockabilly Daddy | Alvis Wayne |
| Bandstand Boogie | Les Elgart |
| The Locomotion | Little Eva |
| Hey Little School Girl | The Paragons |
| Papa Oo Mow Mow | The Rivingtons |
| Hey Paula | Paul & Paula |
| Put Your Head On My Shoulder | Paul Anka |
| You Belong To Me | The Duprees |
| California Girls | The Beach Boys |
| Surf City | Jan & Dean |
| Sherry | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons |
| My Boyfriend’s Back | The Angels |
| Personality | Lloyed Price |
| The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) | Betty Everett |
| Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) | The Impalas |
| New Orleans | Gary U.S. Bonds |
| Way Down Yonder In New Orleans | Freddy Cannon |
| The Battle Of New Orleans | Johnny Horton |
| Walking To New Orleans | Fats Domino |
| Angel Baby | Rosie & The Originals |
| Let’s Go | The Routers |
| Cradle Of Love | Johnny Preston |
| A Girl Likes | Janice Peters |
| Hello Mary Lou | Ricky Nelson |
| Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool | Connie Francis |
| Little Town Flirt | Del Shannon |
| That’s What They Say | Buddy Holly |
| I Told Every Little Star | Linda Scott |
| Devil Or Angel | The Clovers |
| The Wind | The Diablos |
| Sh-Boom | The Chords |
| Come Go With Me | The Del-Vikings |
| Johnny B. Goode | Chuck Berry |
| Jailhouse Rock | Elvis Presley |
| Splish Splash | Bobby Darin |
| Whaday Want | Grady Chapman |
| Babalu’s Wedding Day | The Eternals |
| Wake Up Little Susie | The Everly Brothers |
| Dynamite | Brenda Lee |
| Breaking Up Is Hard To Do | Neil Sedaka |
| There Goes My Baby | The Drifters |
| Life Is But A Dream | The Earls |
| Thank You And Goodnight | The Angels |
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