Gayla Peevey

Gayla Peevey
Publicity photo of Gayla Peevey in 1953
Publicity photo of Gayla Peevey in 1953
Background information
Birth nameGayla Rienette Peevey
Born (1943-03-08) March 8, 1943 (age 81)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1953–1962
LabelsColumbia, Joy

Gayla Rienette Peevey (born March 8, 1943) is a former singer and child star from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is best known for her recording of "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" (Columbia 4-40106, 1953). Peevey recorded the novelty song when she was 10 years old. In 1960, under the name Jamie Horton, she had a minor hit with her single "My Little Marine" (Joy 45-234, 1959),[1] which reached #84 on Billboard's Hot 100 in early 1960.[2] She also recorded "Robot Man", a cover of a Connie Francis UK hit, but it failed to reach the charts.[3]

  1. ^ Discogs (accessed May 8, 2024)
  2. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (February 1, 1960). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 60. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (July 25, 1960). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 3. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)