251:". In what became a pattern in Paxton's early career, the song was recorded first and the group assembled second: after successfully shopping their demo to a label owner, Gary became "Flip" and Clyde became "Skip", after the man's pet poodles, a "group" put together just to have a name on the record. According to Paxton, he was picking cherries on an
473:, which contained his oft-recorded devotional song "He Was There All the Time". Appearing on his gospel album covers in a halo of facial hair and a tall-top cowboy hat, Paxton infused his religious work with the same eccentricity, individuality, and hippie humor that had characterized his 60s material in Los Angeles: acting the role of the
501:
through the label in the early 1980s. NewPax was closely linked with
Paragon Associates, with which it eventually merged. Paxton was inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 on the basis of his innovation and accomplishments in the field and his production and writing for numerous
312:
to fear him. His creativity and knack for promotion were legendary, but could also run to excess: once, after a local radio station dismissed one of his records ("Elephant Game (Part One)" by Renfro & Jackson) as "too black", he assembled a protest parade down
300:
His work throughout this early-1960s period is scattered over various labels, mostly his own (first "Garpax" and quickly followed up with "G.S.P. Records") which he seemed to open and close on a constant basis, making regular use of the five studios he owned.
480:
Paxton's gospel work was released through NewPax
Records, another in his long series of labels, founded in 1975 as an outlet for his new ideas in songwriting and engineering. The label also released recordings by other Christian acts, including the
477:, likening himself to "an armpit in the body of Christ", and crafting song titles like "When the Meat Wagon Comes for You", "Will There Be Hippies in Heaven?", "I'm a Fool for Christ (Whose Fool Are You?)", and "Jesus Is My Lawyer in Heaven".
33:
215:
to an unmarried teenage mother and initially named Larry Wayne
Stevens, Paxton was adopted at age three, given a new name, and raised in rural poverty on a farm. He endured a troubled childhood, molested at age seven and afflicted by
456:
In the wake of his conversion to
Christianity, Paxton focused his efforts on gospel music. He still kept one foot in the world of secular country during the early 1970s — writing and producing "Woman (Sensuous Woman)" for
359:, a country singer he was producing, putting him out of the music world for eight years and nearly ending his life. After the trial, he visited the men in prison and forgave them. Paxton left Nashville in 1999 and lived in
671:
367:
and almost died from the disease in 1990. Paxton made it very clear that his name is Gary S. Paxton, not "Gary Paxton". in the 2000s, Paxton became associated with a number of performers working in
375:
who, as The Comets, recorded a single produced by Paxton, who was credited as "Grandpa Rock"; the single was entitled "When I Die, Just Bury Me at Wal-Mart (So My Wife Will Come and Visit Me)".
332:
in country music. By 1967, he had relocated entirely to that city, where he ran a variety of businesses and founded the label
Bakersfield International. He moved on to
336:, in 1970, and in 1971, following his partner's suicide and his own long struggles with drugs and alcohol, he converted to Christianity. He turned his talents to
348:, and worked in gospel ever since, while maintaining an interest in country. Paxton recorded many of his country and gospel albums under the "Rusty Dean" alias.
588:
753:
893:
809:
461:(a Grammy nominee and a million-plus seller in three different versions) along with two other country-chart hits, and at one point signing with
947:
1027:
1394:
386:
Beyond his early work as part of Skip & Flip, Paxton is best known for his involvement in two novelty hits: the 1960 No. 1 smash "
220:
at 11, which left him crippled for three years. His family moved to
Arizona when he was 12, and he started his first band by 14, playing
277:, California, and was involved in a number of projects, collaborating with others as a performer, writer, producer, label owner, and
1419:
446:
32:
1424:
1328:
613:
1194:
1152:
1429:
1404:
378:
Paxton died at his home in
Branson on July 17, 2016, at the age of 77 from complications of heart surgery and liver disease.
710:
1298:
497:
469:, who took home the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance. In 1975, Paxton won the Best Inspirational Grammy for his album
1279:
1064:
969:
465:
as a solo country artist — but gospel was now his chief priority. In 1973 he wrote and produced "L-O-V-E" for
1414:
1399:
445:". As Paxton moved toward the Bakersfield sound in the late 1960s, he scored his first country hit in 1967 with "
281:. He played a major role in the making of two novelty hits in the early 1960s and worked with artists including
438:
437:
nomination in engineering for his efforts. The following year, he engineered another hit for the
Association, "
1409:
1222:
1180:
747:
286:
267:
482:
229:
905:
821:
643:
372:
1098:
1031:
1083:
The
Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton
739:
The
Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton
518:
The Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton
471:
The Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton
318:
1271:
325:
convertible. He was arrested after the elephant got scared and began to defecate in the street.
466:
274:
399:
259:
and realized it had become a hit. The duo made television appearances, toured with superstar
181:
304:
Over the years, Paxton built a reputation as an eccentric figure in the recording industry.
1389:
1384:
333:
8:
676:
617:
314:
212:
70:
491:
1264:
648:
524:
More from the Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable Gary S. Paxton
168:; May 18, 1939 – July 17, 2016) was an American record producer, recording artist, and
1336:
1275:
1216:
1174:
1060:
368:
360:
329:
290:
278:
185:
87:
844:
1001:
901:
817:
442:
426:
418:
387:
352:
256:
244:
192:
1369:
1199:
1157:
1054:
870:
714:
430:
282:
1306:
1236:
1081:
931:
391:
345:
236:
177:
146:
142:
737:
1378:
644:"Gary S. Paxton, Whose Mixed Bag of a Life Was Filled With Music, Dies at 77"
411:
403:
225:
221:
200:
102:
589:"Gary S Paxton: From 'Monster Mash' to 'He's Alive', an incredible journey"
407:
337:
309:
305:
196:
169:
106:
98:
773:
321:, California, consisting of 15 cheerleaders and a live elephant pulling a
1124:
486:
474:
462:
450:
364:
356:
260:
240:
150:
672:"Gary S. Paxton, music maverick who produced 'Monster Mash,' dies at 77"
458:
395:
322:
263:
217:
173:
742:(vinyl insert or back cover). Gary S. Paxton. Fortress Records. 1975.
422:
294:
248:
565:
2009 - "Grandpa Rock, Volume 1" - 50 years of Gary S. Paxton hits.
394:
and cut quickly with a group thrown together by Paxton's roommate
933:
More Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable
434:
341:
252:
1362:
711:"Testimony – Partial – Less Than – (About Two Per-Cent of It)"
568:
2011 - "Vote 'Em Out Boogie" - LuPax CDs. Duet with Jim Lusk.
363:, with his fourth wife, Vicki Sue Roberts. He suffered from
1059:. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. p. 32.
243:), courtesy of a million-selling 1959 smash the two cut in
37:
Paxton backstage at the Country Gospel Music Awards in 2007
328:
In the later 1960s, he gradually turned to the burgeoning
270:". After this second chart appearance, the pair split up.
16:
American record producer, recording artist, and songwriter
1266:
Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll
414:
and another assembled group billed as the Cryptkickers.
410:", which Paxton produced and recorded with its author
1056:
Stories behind 50 Southern Gospel favorites, volume 2
571:
2014 - "AARP Blues" - LuPax CD's. Duet with Jim Lusk.
351:
On December 29, 1980, Paxton was shot three times by
266:, and soon followed their success with another hit, "
1263:
402:— and a 1962 No. 1 hit inspired by the
614:"Gary Paxton, 'Monster Mash' producer – obituary"
1376:
1335:. Country Gospel Ministries, Inc. Archived from
228:. He spent his middle teenage years touring the
948:"Hollywood Maverick – The Gary S. Paxton Story"
752:: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
1147:
1145:
925:
923:
865:
863:
861:
1203:. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008
1161:. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013
1086:(CD liner). Gary S. Paxton. Fortress Records.
995:
993:
991:
936:(CD liner). Gary S. Paxton. Fortress Records.
894:"Various Artists (Bakersfield International)"
871:"A Small Partial List of Musical Credentials"
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
771:
663:
555:(Some Of) The Best Of Gary S. Paxton (So Far)
1117:
561:Hollywood Maverick: the Gary S. Paxton Story
235:Early stardom came as "Flip" in the pop duo
1187:
1142:
1073:
1020:
962:
920:
885:
858:
736:"An Incomplete History of Gary S. Paxton".
729:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
694:
608:
606:
176:winning songwriter. Paxton was a member of
1030:. Music Mentor Books. 2007. Archived from
988:
810:"Various Artists (Producer/Writer Series)"
792:
708:
31:
1079:
929:
767:
765:
763:
195:" for the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 and "
1261:
1096:
1090:
940:
691:
603:
999:
842:
641:
637:
635:
184:and was the producer of two number one
1377:
1291:
1237:"Gary S. Paxton's great gospel albums"
1229:
760:
1052:
1000:Roberts, Vicki Sue (August 4, 1998).
970:"Going to Hell for Laughing, Part 64"
891:
807:
669:
308:was known to admire his talents, and
232:with this and other forgotten bands.
116:Musician, songwriter, record producer
632:
1395:American country singer-songwriters
1299:"Paragon Associates/NewPax Records"
13:
591:. Cross Rhythms. September 2, 2011
14:
1441:
1354:
1103:The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
713:. Garyspaxton.net. Archived from
670:Smith, Harrison (July 26, 2016).
255:farm when he heard the song on a
530:Terminally Weird/But Godly Right
510:
1420:People from Coffeyville, Kansas
1321:
1255:
1046:
774:"For the week of June 12, 2000"
772:Jerry Osborne (June 12, 2000).
547:
542:The Gospel According to Gary S.
502:noted artists in the industry.
1425:Singer-songwriters from Kansas
1262:Thompson, John Joseph (2000).
836:
642:Roberts, Sam (July 22, 2016).
581:
505:
371:, including former members of
273:By 1960, Paxton was living in
1:
1430:The Hollywood Argyles members
976:. Blogspot.com. July 23, 2005
575:
381:
287:Paul Revere & the Raiders
1405:Record producers from Kansas
489:, who released their albums
206:
7:
10:
1446:
1286:newpax daniel amos alarma.
483:Christian alternative rock
1221:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
1179:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
441:", and another for Roe, "
373:Bill Haley and His Comets
138:
128:
120:
112:
94:
77:
57:
47:
42:
30:
23:
1329:"Hall of Fame Inductees"
1080:MacKenzie, Bob (1993) .
1028:"Back on the Road Again"
1415:Liberty Records artists
1400:American gospel singers
1125:"Bobby "Boris" Pickett"
1099:"The Hollywood Argyles"
1053:Terry, Lindsay (2002).
930:MacKenzie, Bob (1993).
340:, becoming part of the
1333:Countrygospelmusic.com
467:the Blackwood Brothers
417:In 1965, he produced "
43:Background information
1270:. ECW Press. p.
1241:Gary S. Paxton's Room
1006:Gary S. Paxton's Room
780:. Osborne Enterprises
412:Bobby "Boris" Pickett
400:the Hollywood Argyles
390:" — written by
355:(allegedly) hired by
201:Bobby "Boris" Pickett
182:the Hollywood Argyles
1410:Grammy Award winners
1339:on February 25, 2015
1195:"1977 Grammy Awards"
1153:"1973 Grammy Awards"
334:Nashville, Tennessee
264:Alan "Moondog" Freed
1370:Partial discography
950:. WorldsRecords.com
908:on October 26, 2007
824:on October 14, 2007
748:cite AV media notes
677:The Washington Post
536:Gary Sanford Paxton
451:the Gosdin Brothers
425:, and engineered "
315:Hollywood Boulevard
241:Clyde "Skip" Battin
213:Coffeyville, Kansas
166:Larry Wayne Stevens
162:Gary Sanford Paxton
71:Coffeyville, Kansas
53:Larry Wayne Stevens
1309:on August 20, 2008
649:The New York Times
230:American Southwest
873:. Garyspaxton.net
369:Branson, Missouri
361:Branson, Missouri
330:Bakersfield sound
291:the Four Freshmen
218:spinal meningitis
156:
155:
88:Branson, Missouri
1437:
1366:
1365:
1363:Official website
1349:
1348:
1346:
1344:
1325:
1319:
1318:
1316:
1314:
1305:. Archived from
1295:
1289:
1288:
1269:
1259:
1253:
1252:
1250:
1248:
1233:
1227:
1226:
1220:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1191:
1185:
1184:
1178:
1170:
1168:
1166:
1149:
1140:
1139:
1137:
1135:
1129:Classicbands.com
1121:
1115:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1094:
1088:
1087:
1077:
1071:
1070:
1050:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1039:
1024:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1013:
997:
986:
985:
983:
981:
974:The Record Robot
966:
960:
959:
957:
955:
944:
938:
937:
927:
918:
917:
915:
913:
904:. Archived from
889:
883:
882:
880:
878:
867:
856:
855:
853:
851:
840:
834:
833:
831:
829:
820:. Archived from
805:
790:
789:
787:
785:
769:
758:
757:
751:
743:
733:
727:
726:
724:
722:
717:on July 14, 2008
709:Gary S. Paxton.
706:
689:
688:
686:
684:
667:
661:
660:
658:
656:
639:
630:
629:
627:
625:
610:
601:
600:
598:
596:
585:
443:Hooray for Hazel
427:Along Comes Mary
344:countercultural
257:transistor radio
131:
84:
67:
65:
50:
35:
21:
20:
1445:
1444:
1440:
1439:
1438:
1436:
1435:
1434:
1375:
1374:
1361:
1360:
1357:
1352:
1342:
1340:
1327:
1326:
1322:
1312:
1310:
1297:
1296:
1292:
1282:
1260:
1256:
1246:
1244:
1235:
1234:
1230:
1214:
1213:
1206:
1204:
1200:metrolyrics.com
1193:
1192:
1188:
1172:
1171:
1164:
1162:
1158:metrolyrics.com
1151:
1150:
1143:
1133:
1131:
1123:
1122:
1118:
1108:
1106:
1095:
1091:
1078:
1074:
1067:
1051:
1047:
1037:
1035:
1034:on June 6, 2008
1026:
1025:
1021:
1011:
1009:
998:
989:
979:
977:
968:
967:
963:
953:
951:
946:
945:
941:
928:
921:
911:
909:
890:
886:
876:
874:
869:
868:
859:
849:
847:
841:
837:
827:
825:
806:
793:
783:
781:
778:Ask "Mr. Music"
770:
761:
745:
744:
735:
734:
730:
720:
718:
707:
692:
682:
680:
668:
664:
654:
652:
640:
633:
623:
621:
620:. July 29, 2016
612:
611:
604:
594:
592:
587:
586:
582:
578:
550:
513:
508:
431:the Association
384:
283:the Association
237:Skip & Flip
209:
178:Skip & Flip
159:
129:
86:
82:
69:
63:
61:
48:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1443:
1433:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1373:
1372:
1367:
1356:
1355:External links
1353:
1351:
1350:
1320:
1303:Mymusicway.com
1290:
1280:
1254:
1228:
1186:
1141:
1116:
1097:Colin Larkin.
1089:
1072:
1065:
1045:
1019:
987:
961:
939:
919:
884:
857:
835:
791:
759:
728:
690:
662:
631:
602:
579:
577:
574:
573:
572:
569:
566:
563:
557:
549:
546:
545:
544:
538:
532:
526:
520:
512:
509:
507:
504:
406:dance craze, "
392:Dallas Frazier
383:
380:
346:Jesus movement
279:audio engineer
208:
205:
158:Musical artist
157:
154:
153:
140:
136:
135:
132:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
114:
110:
109:
96:
92:
91:
85:(aged 77)
79:
75:
74:
59:
55:
54:
51:
45:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
25:Gary S. Paxton
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1442:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1371:
1368:
1364:
1359:
1358:
1338:
1334:
1330:
1324:
1308:
1304:
1300:
1294:
1287:
1283:
1281:9781550224214
1277:
1273:
1268:
1267:
1258:
1243:. Koji Kihara
1242:
1238:
1232:
1224:
1218:
1202:
1201:
1196:
1190:
1182:
1176:
1160:
1159:
1154:
1148:
1146:
1130:
1126:
1120:
1104:
1100:
1093:
1085:
1084:
1076:
1068:
1066:0-8254-3885-3
1062:
1058:
1057:
1049:
1033:
1029:
1023:
1008:. Koji Kihara
1007:
1003:
996:
994:
992:
975:
971:
965:
949:
943:
935:
934:
926:
924:
907:
903:
899:
895:
888:
872:
866:
864:
862:
846:
845:"GARY PAXTON"
843:Dik de Heer.
839:
823:
819:
815:
811:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
779:
775:
768:
766:
764:
755:
749:
741:
740:
732:
716:
712:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
679:
678:
673:
666:
651:
650:
645:
638:
636:
619:
618:The Telegraph
615:
609:
607:
590:
584:
580:
570:
567:
564:
562:
558:
556:
552:
551:
543:
539:
537:
533:
531:
527:
525:
521:
519:
515:
514:
511:Studio albums
503:
500:
499:
494:
493:
488:
484:
478:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
454:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
429:", a hit for
428:
424:
421:", a hit for
420:
415:
413:
409:
405:
404:Mashed Potato
401:
397:
393:
389:
379:
376:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
349:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
326:
324:
320:
316:
311:
307:
302:
298:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
271:
269:
265:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
233:
231:
227:
226:rock 'n' roll
223:
219:
214:
204:
202:
198:
194:
190:
188:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
152:
148:
144:
141:
137:
133:
127:
123:
119:
115:
113:Occupation(s)
111:
108:
104:
100:
99:Novelty music
97:
93:
89:
81:July 17, 2016
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
52:
46:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1341:. Retrieved
1337:the original
1332:
1323:
1311:. Retrieved
1307:the original
1302:
1293:
1285:
1265:
1257:
1245:. Retrieved
1240:
1231:
1205:. Retrieved
1198:
1189:
1163:. Retrieved
1156:
1132:. Retrieved
1128:
1119:
1107:. Retrieved
1102:
1092:
1082:
1075:
1055:
1048:
1036:. Retrieved
1032:the original
1022:
1010:. Retrieved
1005:
1002:"Newsletter"
978:. Retrieved
973:
964:
952:. Retrieved
942:
932:
910:. Retrieved
906:the original
897:
887:
875:. Retrieved
848:. Retrieved
838:
826:. Retrieved
822:the original
813:
782:. Retrieved
777:
738:
731:
719:. Retrieved
715:the original
681:. Retrieved
675:
665:
653:. Retrieved
647:
622:. Retrieved
593:. Retrieved
583:
560:
554:
548:Compilations
541:
535:
529:
523:
517:
498:Doppelgänger
496:
490:
479:
470:
455:
433:, winning a
416:
408:Monster Mash
385:
377:
350:
338:gospel music
327:
310:Phil Spector
306:Brian Wilson
303:
299:
272:
247:, Arizona, "
234:
210:
197:Monster Mash
186:
165:
161:
160:
130:Years active
83:(2016-07-17)
68:May 18, 1939
18:
1390:2016 deaths
1385:1939 births
902:Ace Records
898:Ace History
892:Jason Odd.
818:Ace Records
814:Ace History
808:Jason Odd.
683:November 9,
655:November 9,
624:November 9,
506:Discography
487:Daniel Amos
475:Jesus freak
463:RCA Records
365:hepatitis C
357:Vern Gosdin
319:Los Angeles
1379:Categories
850:August 28,
576:References
459:Don Gibson
447:Hangin' On
396:Kim Fowley
382:Recordings
323:Volkswagen
268:Cherry Pie
191:singles, "
174:Dove Award
145:, G.S.P.,
121:Instrument
64:1939-05-18
49:Birth name
423:Tommy Roe
419:Sweet Pea
388:Alley Oop
295:Tommy Roe
275:Hollywood
207:Biography
203:in 1962.
193:Alley Oop
187:Billboard
134:1959–2016
1343:July 28,
1313:July 28,
1247:July 28,
1217:cite web
1207:July 28,
1175:cite web
1165:July 28,
1134:July 28,
1109:July 28,
1038:July 28,
1012:July 28,
980:July 28,
954:July 28,
912:July 28,
877:July 28,
828:July 28,
784:July 28,
721:July 28,
595:July 17,
492:¡Alarma!
249:It Was I
211:Born in
124:Vocalist
559:2006 -
553:1980 -
540:1979 -
534:1979 -
528:1978 -
522:1977 -
516:1975 -
439:Cherish
245:Phoenix
222:country
189:Hot 100
103:country
1278:
1105:. Muze
1063:
435:Grammy
353:hitmen
342:hippie
293:, and
261:deejay
253:Oregon
239:(with
199:" for
170:Grammy
164:(born
147:NewPax
143:Garpax
139:Labels
107:gospel
95:Genres
90:, U.S.
73:, U.S.
485:band
449:" by
1345:2008
1315:2008
1276:ISBN
1249:2008
1223:link
1209:2008
1181:link
1167:2008
1136:2008
1111:2008
1061:ISBN
1040:2008
1014:2008
982:2008
956:2008
914:2008
879:2008
852:2024
830:2008
786:2008
754:link
723:2008
685:2016
657:2016
626:2016
597:2016
495:and
224:and
180:and
172:and
78:Died
58:Born
1272:131
317:in
151:RCA
1381::
1331:.
1301:.
1284:.
1274:.
1239:.
1219:}}
1215:{{
1197:.
1177:}}
1173:{{
1155:.
1144:^
1127:.
1101:.
1004:.
990:^
972:.
922:^
900:.
896:.
860:^
816:.
812:.
794:^
776:.
762:^
750:}}
746:{{
693:^
674:.
646:.
634:^
616:.
605:^
453:.
398:,
297:.
289:,
285:,
149:,
105:,
101:,
1347:.
1317:.
1251:.
1225:)
1211:.
1183:)
1169:.
1138:.
1113:.
1069:.
1042:.
1016:.
984:.
958:.
916:.
881:.
854:.
832:.
788:.
756:)
725:.
687:.
659:.
628:.
599:.
66:)
62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.