|
Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of American songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels (born 1938), who achieved one-hit wonder status with the bizarre and controversial Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" in 1966.
Samuels was born in New York City and became a professional songwriter by the age of 16. He co-wrote songs for Johnnie Ray such as "To Ev'ry Girl, To Ev'ry Boy (The Meaning Of Love)" (1954) and "The Only Girl I'll Ever Love" (1955). In 1956, he released a single himself, "Puppy Love". Samuels continued to work as a songwriter throughout this period, with numbers recorded by the likes of Ivory Joe Hunter, LaVern Baker, Adam Wade, The Impossibles, Doris Day, and The Chantels. The biggest hit to come out of a Samuels-written song came in early 1964, when Sammy Davis Jr. reached number 17 on the U.S. pop singles chart with "The Shelter of Your Arms". He also tried recording again, this time under the names Jerry Simms or Jerry Sims (not to be confused with a different writer, Jerry Sims, who recorded for Buddy, Big Tyme, or other labels), in 1959 and 1961 (his first try at a novelty record).
Then in 1966, Samuels concocted the bizarre and controversial "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" His nom du novelty Napoleon XIV for this effort was a play on the names of two very famous Frenchmen — the Emperor Napoleon I and King Louis XIV, although some in the public found out the true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC in New York outed him.
Napoleon XIV continued to release music after "They're Coming To Take Me Away", including an album of the same name (reissued by Rhino in the mid-80's). most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example, the single "Bats In My Belfry" or the track "Split Level Head," featuring different vocal parts in each stereo speaker). While he did not achieve any further mainstream success, Napoleon XIV has remained a cult favorite to this day.
Samuels still writes songs and presently runs a business that books entertainment primarily for retirement homes.
|
