Rockabilly bombshell Lillian Briggs, who’s real name was Lillian Biggs, was born in 1932 and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She joined Joy Cayler’s All-Girl Orchestra in 1952, where she was known to put on a “bop hat” and long plaid jacket with huge key chain and hoarsely sing her own lyrics to songs. Two years later she signed a recording contract with Epic Records as a solo artist and recorded “I Want You to Be My Baby” which sold over a million copies, with more than a little promotional help from DJ Alan Freed. She also starred in the 1961 movie, “The Ladies Man,” with Jerry Lewis, and appeared on many TV shows, including Jack Paar’s “Tonight Show,” “American Bandstand,” “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Steve Allen Show.” She would appear onstage in a skin-tight silver or gold lamé dress, and then proceed to wow the audience with her trombone playing and her brassy singing.
However, Briggs’ recording career eventually stalled, and she retired from performing in the early 1970s. Lillian moved to Miami Beach, where her shrewd business dealings made her a wealthy woman. She regularly loaned her yacht, “Monkey Business,” to friends and associates, and it was aboard her ship that Democratic Presidential candidate Gary Hart was photographed with mistress Donna Rice, bringing his political aspirations to an end. Lillian Briggs died of lung cancer on April 11, 1998.
In 1956, Lillian Briggs released a song for the Christmas Holiday season, called “Rock ‘n’ Roll-y Poly Santa Claus.” The song was co-written by Robert Allen, who also wrote many hit songs including “Home for the Holidays,” “Chances Are,” as well as the fight song for Auburn University in Alabama, “War Eagle.” The orchestra was under the direction of Owen B. Masingill, who also wrote arrangements and conducted for many top performers, including Duke Ellington, Perry Como and Hoagy Carmichael, and also played trombone with Gerry Mulligan.
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