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The Archies made a name for themselves as cartoon characters long before they became a band. The Chipmunks, on the other hand, found musical success before they were ever even animated. Their unique sound of high-pitched vocals won them several chart hits and millions of albums sold. Several generations of children have been entertained by these rodent rock stars, and they paved the way for other music and television combinations, such as The Monkees.

 

The Chipmunks were created by Ross Bagdasarian, a songwriter who had written “Come On-A My House,” made famous by Rosemary Clooney. Fascinated by the way recording technology could alter sound, he started releasing records under the name David Seville. His first hit under that moniker was 1958’s “Witch Doctor,” a novelty song featuring a sped-up vocal singing Ooh-ee-ooh-ah-ah, ting-tang-walla-walla-bing-bang." It went to #1, and was the jumping off point for Bagdasarian’s next move.

 

In "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", he used the David Seville character to direct three chipmunk singers (sung by Bagdasarian with his voice sped up) named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. He named them after the three heads of Liberty Records. The song went #1 at the end of 1958, and was followed up with other Chipmunk numbers like "Alvin's Harmonica" and "Ragtime Cowboy Joe," as well as full-length albums like Sing Along With The Chipmunks.

By the 1960’s the Chipmunk’s album sales were in the millions, and it was time to give them their own animated prime time television program. The Alvin Show debuted in 1961 on Saturday mornings, and broadcast the adventures of David and his 3 chipmunk friends. It was a huge hit, running until 1965, and helping spur album sale for titles such as The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles Hits, The Chipmunks Sing With Children and The Chipmunks Sing Songs From Dr. Doolittle.

In 1970, after selling over 30 million records, Ross Bagdasarian retired – and by default, his chipmunk companions did as well. But The Chipmunks album catalog continued to sell, and in 1980 Bagdasarian’s son, Ross Jr., decided to pick up the baton. He put out a new Chipmunks album called Chipmunk Punk, featuring Chipmunk covers of new wave hits by The Cars, Blondie, The Knack, and others. It was a best-selling children’s record, and was followed up with the country-themed album, Urban Chipmunk.

 

A new Christmas album was released in 1981, partnered with an animated TV special. It did well enough that NBC ordered a Saturday morning series called Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1983. Following the adventures of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, and featuring their vocal prowess, it ran for 7 successful years.

 

The Chipmunks continue to put out theme albums, capitalizing on the genre of the moment. The ‘90’s saw Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes, which featured Chipmunk versions of "Macarena" and "Vogue," and The A-Files: Alien Songs, which covered space-themed songs like "Men In Black" and "Rocket Man." A new, computer-animated feature film is due out in 2007, proving that The Chipmunks are as vital a pop culture phenomenon as ever.