"Lollipop" is a popular song written by Julius Dixson[1] and Beverly Ross in 1958 for the duo Ronald & Ruby, which was covered most successfully by The Chordettes. Dixson's name is sometimes spelled Dixon.[2]
The recording duo Ronald & Ruby comprised Ronald Gumps[citation needed], who was black, and white songwriter Beverly Ross. The recording was originally for the purpose of a demo to shop the song, but RCA got a hold of it and Dixson, who owned the master and had produced the demo, agreed to let RCA release it. Ronald and Ruby's version rose up the chart reaching #20, but when it was learned that Ronald and Ruby were an interracial duo (as were the songwriters, Dixson and Ross), television appearances that had been previously booked were cancelled and interest in the song waned.[citation needed]
"Lollipop" was then covered in the United States by female vocal quartet The Chordettes, whose version reached #2 and #3 on the Billboard pop and R&B charts, respectively. The song became a worldwide hit. The Chordettes' version reached #6 in the UK, where there was also a cover version by The Mudlarks which made #2.
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