Big Dee Irwin

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Big Dee Irwin
Harlem, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 1995(1995-08-27) (aged 63)
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1954–1978

DiFosco "Dee" T. Ervin Jr. (July 6, 1932 – August 27, 1995), better known as Big Dee Irwin, was an American R&B singer and songwriter whose biggest hit was a version of "Swinging on a Star" in 1963, recorded as a duet with Little Eva.

Life and career

Dee Ervin was born in

Harlem, New York.[1]
Some sources give his first name as Defosca and his family name as Erwin.

He joined the

hit. They performed at the Apollo Theater later in 1958, but split up early the following year.[3][4]

Ervin then started a solo career on Hull Records as Dee Erwin, and also recorded on the Bliss label, before signing for

In The Hollies Style.[2] In 1976, initially under the name DiFosco, he released the disco single "Face to Face". His last record release was in 1978.[3][4]

Irwin died of

heart failure in 1995.[2] His son, David Ervin, has played piano professionally as a studio
musician.

Discography

Hull Records (as Dee Erwin)

  • "I Can't Help It (I'm Falling In Love)" / "Rubin, Rubin" — 1959
  • "Let's Try Again" /"'Tis Farewell" — 1960

Bliss Records (as Dee Erwin)

  • "Someday You'll Understand Why" / "Anytime" — 1961

Dimension Records (as Big Dee Irwin; * with Little Eva; ** with The Breakaways)

  • "Everybody's Got a Dance But Me" / "And Heaven Was Here" — 1962
  • "Swinging on a Star" * / "Another Night with the Boys" * — 1963 - U.S. No. 38,[1] UK No. 7[5]
  • "Happy Being Fat"[6] * / "Soul Waltzin'" — 1963
  • "Skeeter" / "You're My Inspiration" — 1963
  • "The Christmas Song" * / "I Wish You a Merry Christmas" * — 1963
  • "Heigh-Ho" ** / "I Want So Much to Know You" ** — 1964

20th Century Fox Records (as Big Dee Irwin)

  • "Donkey Walk" / "Someday You'll Understand Why" — 1963

Roulette Records (as Dee Erwin)

  • "Discotheque" / "The Sun's Gonna Shine Tomorrow" — 1965
  • "Are You Really Real" / "The Mouse"

Rotate Records (as Big Dee Irwin)

  • "I Wanna Stay Right Here With You" / "You Satisfy My Needs" — 1965
  • "Follow My Heart" / "Stop Heart" — 1965

Fairmont Records (as Big Dee Irwin)

  • "Sweet Young Thing Like You" / "You Really Are Together" — 1966

Astra Records (as Dee Irwin)

  • "I Can't Help It" / "My One and Only Dream" — 1966

Phil-La Records (as Big Dee Irwin)

  • "Better to Have Loved and Lost" / "Linda" — 1967

Polydor Records (as Big Dee Irwin and Suzie [Maria Pereboom])

Imperial Records (as Dee Irwin)

  • "I Only Get This Feeling" / "Wrong Direction" — 1968
  • "I Can't Stand the Pain" / "My Hope to Die Girl" — 1968

Imperial Records (as Big Dee Irwin and Mamie Galore)

Earthquake Records (as DiFosco)

  • "Sunshine Love" / "You Saved Me from Destruction" — 1971

Signpost Records (as Dee Ervin)

  • "Darling, Please Take Me Back" (
    Mono
    ) — 1972

Roxbury Records

  • "You Broke My Face" / "Face to Face" — 1976 (as DiFosco)
  • "You Broke My Face" / "Face to Face" — 1976 (as Dee Ervin)
  • "The I Love You Song" / "I Can't Get You Off My Mind" — 1976 (as Dee Ervin)

20th Century Fox (as Dee Erwin)

  • "The I Love You Song" / "Ship of Love" - 1978

[3]

References

  1. ^ , p. 338
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ a b c "Biographical note by Marv Goldberg based on interview with Ervin". Archived from the original on 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  4. ^ a b Biography by Linda Seida, AllMusic
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ "Happy Being Fat". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 12 June 2021.

External links