Here Comes Summer

Album: Biggest Summer Hits (1959)
Charted: 1 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • American singer Jerry Keller formed his first group, The Lads of Note, whilst still in his teens in the early 1950s. After studying at the University of Tulsa, Keller moved to New York in 1956. He attended the same church there as Pat Boone, who sent him to see Marty Mills who became Keller's manager. This song became his only hit as a recording artist on the UK and US singles charts, but he later carved out a successful career as a songwriter. Among the hits he co-penned were Andy Williams' successful single "Almost There," from the 1964 movie I'd Rather Be Rich. He also wrote the English lyric for "A Man and A Woman " from the 1966 French Academy Award winning film Un Homme et Une Femme, which has been recorded by a number of artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Engelbert Humperdinck and Johnny Mathis.
  • Many consider this song, which celebrates teenage innocence, to be the UK's first ever summer hit. Strangely, though it entered the UK charts in August, this song arrived at #1 in the rather unseasonal month of October.
  • The Dave Clark Five revived this song in 1970, but their version proved less successful peaking at #44 in the UK.

Comments: 4

  • Brady6 from Ohio, Usa“Here Comes Summer” was recorded in late 1958. Wisely, it was held back for release for the summer of 1959. Planned for release in early May, for some reason it was delayed several weeks. That probably is why the song did not reach the top ten in the US.
  • Paul from LondonI've seen a record label dated 1958 for this single. Am I right in thinking this song was first released in States that year but it failed to chart? When released a whole year later in the UK in the autumn of 1959 it went straight to No.1!
  • AnonymousI've seen a record label dated 1958 for this single. Am I right in thinking this song was first released in States that year but it failed to chart? When released a whole year later in the UK in the autumn of 1959 it went straight to No.1!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 23rd 1959, "Here Comes Summer" by Jerry Keller entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #14 and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on October 9th, 1959 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    Mr. Keller celebrated his 77th birthday three days ago on June 20th, 2014.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.