“The Monkey Time” (Major Lance)

Today’s classic song of the day is an R&B track from Major Lance, “The Monkey Time.” Released as a single in June of 1963, “The Monkey Time” hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart.

“The Monkey Time” was written by Curtis Mayfield, of the Impressions. The record was produced by Carl Davis and released on the OKeh Records label. OKeh was a Chicago-based label and “The Monkey Time” is prime early ’60s Chicago soul.

Major Lance was a Chicago native who was boyhood friends with Curtis Mayfield. Lance got his show business start as a dancer on the daily Bandstand Matinee television show. (It was kind of a local version of American Bandstand, broadcast on Chicago station WGN.) Based on his friend Mayfield’s recommendation, OKeh Records signed him to a recording contract in 1962. His first single, “Delilah,” wasn’t a hit, but his second one, “The Monkey Time,” was. He followed that with “Hey Little Girl,” “Um Um Um” (a #1 hit), “The Matador, “Rhythm,” and other R&B tracks. Major Lance released his last record in 1982 but kept performing up until his death in 1994. He was 55 years old.

And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Major Lance performing “The Monkey Time” on the September 20, 1965, episode of Shindig! Dig that crazy footwork…