The Rivingtons

The Rivingtons were a doo-wop group noted for being one of the most loud and raucous of the genre. Their first hit, "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" (1962), like many such songs, began with the bass chanting nonsense syllables (in this case the title), followed by the tenor singing over repetitions of it. "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow", an even more baroque rewrite of the theme, failed to sell, but they returned to the charts the following year with the similar "The Bird's The Word".

Previously the Rivingtons had been known as The Sharps and had already tasted chart action via Thurston Harris' "Little Bitty Pretty One" in 1957, after which they appeared on several Duane Eddy recordings when any extraneous sounds of rebel yells were required.

After the 2 hit singles the songs, The Trashmen, a white surf band, recorded "Surfin' Bird", made from elements of "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's The Word". The band cut the disc over a record shop and passed it off as their own work ^{[citation needed]} because it was a medley of the songs without the verses. However the Rivingtons' management reported it to their lawyers and the group were ordered to add the surnames of the 4 Rivingtons members to the credits. ^{[citation needed]}