Born on November 9, 1943 in Queens, New York, Brian Hyland’s first hit came at the young age of 16 when “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” was a runaway hit in the summer of 1960. On the ABC label, he had some minor hits with “Let Me Belong To You”, “Ginny Come Lately”, and a song that would later be covered by Dave Edmunds titled “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)”. He had another top 5 hit in 1962 with “Sealed With a Kiss”. In the midst of the British Invasion, Brian’s song “The Joker Went Wild” performed most respectably.
In 1970, Brian collaborated with Del Shannon and released a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Gypsy Woman”, which went to number 3. A few years later when “Sealed With a Kiss” was released again in Great Britain, it went straight to the top ten. “Brian Hyland, Greatest Hits” on MCA, (USA/Canada), includes all of his hit songs. He also has many other foreign and domestic compilations.
On stage today, Brian plays rhythm/lead Stratocaster and blues harp in an eclectic set … a virtual jukebox, of country-blues, of roots rock, many of his hit records and originals songs, with a contagious enthusiasm for rock & roll. He has toured worldwide.
While recording three duets with Dutch artist Albert West for the album “Albert West And Friends” on Cherry Records, and the Dutch charts, Brian performed on TV shows in Germany, Belgium, and a Dutch TV special in Aruba, He has appeared on many TV shows in the US and abroad.
He continues to tour around the U.S, and the world with songwriting partner and wife, Rosmari, and their favorite rock drummer, son Bodi, performing classic Rock & Roll, new and gold.
While continuing to write new music and record, they are also compiling material for an eventual book about the long and winding Rock & Roll road. Among others, Brian has contributed original pen & Ink art to the Rock Art Auction for AmFar; to The Rock & Roll Cookbook for The National Music Foundation; performed for The Special Olympics; and recorded on annual Christmas Albums for Children’s Hospitals nationwide. He just sang on a song for “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.” They are currently writing and recording at home in California, continually adding to an archive of classic R&R, as well as a trilogy of CD’s beginning with “Turquoise Moon” for independent release.