"Kiddio" is a 1960 R&B/pop song written by

Brook Benton Benjamin Franklin Peay (September 19, 1931 – April 9, 1988), better known as Brook Benton, was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960 ...

Clyde Otis Clyde Lovern Otis (September 11, 1924 – January 8, 2008), was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African-American A&R executives at a major label ...

. The song was first recorded and released in 1957 by

Teddy Randazzo Alessandro Carmelo "Teddy" Randazzo (May 13, 1935 – November 21, 2003) was an American pop songwriter, singer, arranger and producer, who composed hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", "Pretty Blue Eyes", ...

Brook Benton recording

"Kiddio" was later released as a single by Brook Benton in 1960. Randazzo and Benton both recorded for RCA's Vik label. The single was the fourth time in a year that Brook Benton had topped the R&B charts. However, two of those times, he'd hit number one with duet partner,

Dinah Washington Dinah Washington (born Ruth Lee Jones; August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an American singer and pianist, who has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s songs". Primarily a jazz vocalist, she performe ...

. "Kiddio" also continued Brook Benton's popularity on the pop charts by making it his fifth top-ten pop single.

Chart history

Cover versions

*Kiddio was covered by Johnny Littlejohn in 1966 under the title "Kitty O". Johnny Littlejohn scaled back the instrumentation (no violins, or orchestral sounds) and applied an electric Blues guitar treatment to the song. *Kiddio was later covered in 1990 by Native American Blues artist Charlie Musselwhite in 1990 under the title "Kiddeo". Charlie Musselwhite emphasized the modern harmonica Blues in his version. * In 1990,

The Paladins The Paladins are an American roots rock-rockabilly band from San Diego, California. Founded in the early 1980s by guitarist Dave Gonzalez and his high school friend and double bass player Thomas Yearsley, they have recorded nine studio albums an ...

recorded a roots-rockabilly version on their ''Let's Buzz'' album. * In 1995 John Lee Hooker included a version on his ''Chill Out'' album.

Popular culture

*Randazzo's version is featured in the 1957 movie, " Mister Rock and Roll."Mister Rock and Roll - IMDb, "Mister Rock and Roll (1957)" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050711/

References

External links

* 1960 singles Brook Benton songs Songs written by Clyde Otis Songs written by Brook Benton 1960 songs {{1960s-R&B-song-stub