Cub composer dies, "Hey, Hey...''

by writerinwrigley on Jul 5, 2007 1:45 PM CDT

Johnny Frigo dead at 90

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-obit-frigo_05jul05,1,4787863.story?coll=chi-s portstop-hed

the guy behind the first great Cub jingle, Johnny Frigo, has passed away acc. to the above article in today's Tribune.

Since we grew up with this--along with "Let's go, batter up, we're taking the afternoon off'' preceding the WGN Radio broadcasts--seems like end of an era...one of my fave Cub theme songs and there have been many, esp. Steve Goodman's "Go Cubs Go.''

Wish someone now would write a new one not crazy aboutthe one they're playing on WGN these days...can't even name it.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Song

That was always a favorite of mine, and perfectly suited to open up the radio broadcast. It was always so exciting to have WGN on and hear that "Wow!" and know it was finally almost game time.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 5, 2007 3:56 PM CDT reply actions

That song

My mom got me to keep playing the piano by pursuading my teacher to let me learn how to play it.

And I still can.

I just want the Cubs to top the Bears NFC Title Game as my highlight of the year.

by puckishcubsfan on Jul 6, 2007 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Never saw the jazz influence

In Hey Hey, Holy Mackeral but can see it now...not as bubble-gummy are "Here Come the Hawks'' another childhood (still) favorite....they still play the underscoring on radio broadcasts and (I think) at the UC.

I think the Cubs should honor this composer in some way at WF with a moment of silence of something; he made as great a contribution to the team as many players.

by writerinwrigley on Jul 5, 2007 4:16 PM CDT reply actions

Here Come the Hawks

Here Come the Hawks is great right up there with the Cubs songs and Bear Down.

I won a name a song the band knows get a free dinner once by naming that song. And singing it. Half drunk in a bar in Pougkeepsie, New York.

Now if only the Hawks would be worth even humming about let alone singing about again!

I just want the Cubs to top the Bears NFC Title Game as my highlight of the year.

by puckishcubsfan on Jul 6, 2007 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions

He was musically multifaceted

and also had a country music background. I first saw him performing as part of a WLS Radio Barndance retrospective at the Chicago Cultural Center, a couple of years ago. He also played country music back in the 1940's and 1950's. He had difficulty walking, yet once he was up on stage, he wailed on the fiddle. It was like he was a young man again, and not a man in his late eighties. It was an amazing performance.

I last saw him about a year ago at Schubas, a rock club on the north side. He was there to check out a rock/pop violinist, who was headlining the show. It was not until after that show, that I discovered that he also wrote the "Hey, Hey, Holy Mackerel" song. I was hoping to complement him on the song, the next time I saw him.

by David Sameshima on Jul 5, 2007 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

I got the first and second season of "Moonlighting" on DVD a couple weeks ago, and in "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" episode, Cybill Shepherd sings "I Told You I Love You, Now Get Out."

So I just heard that song three days ago. I would have had no clue that it was written by the same guy who wrote "Hey, hey, holy mackerel" song.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2007 9:36 PM CDT reply actions

I love old songs

I love the traditional old songs for the teams. Not crappy 90s music that has no meaning.

Go Cubs Go is great. If you ever have a chance to hear more of Steve Goodman's stuff listen it's great.

I still think "Bear Down Chicago Bears" which by the way was written by the person who wrote a lot of the Disney music in the early years is the best fight song in sports. It's simple and to the point. No stupid stuff.

And think of the University what you well but the Notre Dame fight song is the best college one. Even if some silly feminist group is up in their bras whining about the last line still being "While our loyal sons are marching onward to victory"

I just want the Cubs to top the Bears NFC Title Game as my highlight of the year.

by puckishcubsfan on Jul 6, 2007 12:08 AM CDT reply actions

I do admit

I do admit to kind of liking that "Shake the Lake" song they had for the Bears last year even if the first time she heard it my friend thought they were singing "Shave their legs"

I just want the Cubs to top the Bears NFC Title Game as my highlight of the year.

by puckishcubsfan on Jul 6, 2007 12:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Does Anyone

have a link for all of the old cubbie songs on the internet somewhere. I love listening to them when Im tooling around the house like today. Let go Cubbies, come on Jason we need to get another one did anyone see Vargas or whats his name from the Brewers punching the cooler last night, that was classic.

-"Glenallen Hill just did WHAT!"

by Les Lancaster on Jul 6, 2007 4:01 PM CDT reply actions

Remember the Beach Boys radio intro?

This was in the '80s, when they had the "Here Come the Cubs" song, which was set to the music of "Barbara Ann"? Best line: "Wind's blowing out, wind's blowing in, which ever way it's blowing the Cubs are gonna win!" This was back in the days of Dewayne Staats calling games on WGN radio, with color guys ranging from Lou Boudreau to Jim Frey, and I think there may have been one more guy in there before Ron Santo.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Jul 7, 2007 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, there was another guy.

Some guy named Brenly. Yes, Bob Brenly was on WGN radio doing color commentary in 1990, the year before Santo was hired.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 7, 2007 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

forgot the beach boy one!!

There was a tape out back in 80s with all the Cub jingles on it.. from hey hey holy mackeral to the most recent and (I think) the beach boys tune...they need a new one now maybe someone will be inspired!!

by writerinwrigley on Jul 7, 2007 7:37 PM CDT reply actions