Gayla Peevey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gayla Peevey
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Publicity photo of Gayla Peevey in 1953
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gayla Rienette Peevey |
| Born | March 8, 1943 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1953–1962 |
| Labels | Columbia, Joy |
Gayla Peevey (born March 8, 1943) is a former singer and child star from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She became famous for her song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" which she recorded in 1953. Gayla was only 10 years old when she sang this fun, silly song, which is called a novelty song.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to California
Gayla Peevey's family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1948. Before she moved to California, she went to Columbus Elementary School.
Her Singing Career
The Famous Christmas Song
Gayla Peevey's first record was "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". She recorded it in 1953 when she was just ten years old. This song became the best-selling Christmas record of that year.
A Hippo for Christmas
The song was so popular that the Oklahoma City Zoo started a special fundraising campaign. They wanted to "buy a hippo for Gayla" because of her song. People donated money and raised $3,000. This money was used to buy a baby hippopotamus named Matilda.
Matilda weighed over 700 pounds! Gayla Peevey received Matilda and then donated her to the Oklahoma City Zoo in 1953. Matilda lived at the Oklahoma City Zoo for 45 years. She passed away in 1998 at age 47 while being moved to Walt Disney World's Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
Matilda was a Pygmy hippopotamus. These animals are now endangered, meaning there are fewer than 3,000 left in the wild.
Singing as Jamie Horton
In 1960, Gayla Peevey used a different name for her music: Jamie Horton. She had a small hit song called "My Little Marine". It reached number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart in early 1960. She also recorded a song called "Robot Man".
Personal Life
Gayla Peevey went to San Diego State University and earned a degree in education. She later stopped teaching. She is married to Cliff Henderson. They have a daughter named Sydney Forest and three grandchildren. After she stopped performing, Gayla started her own company that creates jingle advertisements. She also sings in her church.
Gayla Peevey lives in San Diego.
