Ross Bagdasarian

After Bagdasarian's death in 1972 from a heart attack at the age of 52, his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., continued to release Chipmunks recordings and has taken over the voices for the Chipmunk characters in subsequent iterations of the cartoon. Also, The Spinners are known in England as The Detroit Spinners or The Motown Spinners because a Liverpool based folk band had taken the name in Britain during the 1960s. He also provided the voice for the David Seville character in the Chipmunks' 1961 animated television series, The Alvin Show. In their recently released box set The Chrome Collection, The Spinners were lauded by David Bowie and Elvis Costello. He also had bit parts in The Deep Six (1957), The Devil's Hairpin (1957), The Proud and Profane (1956), Three Violent People (1956), Hot Blood (1956), Alaska Seas (1954), Destination Gobi (1953), Stalag 17 (1953), Viva Zapata! (1952), and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). They are big draws on the oldies and nostalgia concert circuits, and continue to play the music that made them famous. Bagdasarian also appeared in minor film parts, including Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, in which he plays an obsessed piano-playing songwriter. Even though their last hits were over 20 years ago, the bright lights of their 1972-1976 run of the charts continues to provide for the current members.

This success led to his recording of "The Christmas Song" with the Chipmunks. The Spinners appeared on the charts only twice more, both in 1980. As David Seville, he had another number-one record in his song, "The Witch Doctor", which was also his first experiment with the technique of speeding up the playback of an audio track to get the most-distinctive higher pitched squeaky comedy sound. When Wynne left the group in 1977, the hits dried up. His first musical success was Rosemary Clooney's "Come On-a My House", which he wrote with his cousin, novelist William Saroyan. This turned out to be a precursor to disco, the dance music fad that came several years later. During his professional life he was better known by the stage name David Seville, which he used on his recordings featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks. The Detroit band's popularity was contributed to by their producer, Thom Bell, who was beginning to be recognized for his trademark Philly soul or "Philadelphia Sound".

Ross Bagdasarian (January 27, 1919 – January 16, 1972), pianist, songwriter, actor, and record producer was born in Fresno, California. With songs like "I'll Be Around", "Sadie", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "Rubberband Man", "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", and "Then Came You", The Spinners had cemented their place in pop music history. The Spinners began a climb up the charts that put 11 songs in the Top 40 pop charts between 1972 and 1976. They did not achieve another commercial hit until singer Philippe Wynne joined the group, and (as legend has it) Aretha Franklin suggested the group finish out their Motown contract, and change to Atlantic Records. Success mostly eluded them until 1970, when they had a hit with Stevie Wonder's composition, "It's A Shame".

They also signed to Berry Gordy's Motown label, based in Detroit. The Spinners first hit the charts in 1961, with "That's What Girls Are Made For." In 1964, they made their debut at the Apollo Theater and won instant acclaim, a rare feat at the time. Dixon was the first to go. Dixon, and Bobbie Smith called themselves the Domingoes. Early on, The Spinners established a pattern of rapidly going through lead singers.

Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, George W. A group of friends in a Detroit, Michigan high school in 1957 came together to make music. The band still tours as of 2004. The Spinners are a Detroit-based soul band popular in the 1960s and 1970s.