What is a Ding Dong Daddy?
By Glynda Pflug
When visitors come to Dumas, one of the first questions is "What is a Ding Dong Daddy?"
Dumas is named after Louis Dumas who came to the Texas Panhandle in the late 1800's. This area was one of the final areas of the State of Texas to be developed.
Mr. Dumas stayed only for a short time, but with his partners, laid out the town plat and began developing sites. The town was named after him and many of the streets were named after his partners.
The first census was in 1890 and listed 15 residents in Moore County. By the 1920 census, the populations had grown to 571. Late in that decade a man who was to become a moderately successful band leader and song writer, Phil Baxter, stopped in Dumas. He spent a few weeks here getting acquainted and, after he had a stake, continued his journey. Less than a year later, Baxter penned the words and tune to a song which he named "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas."
Phil Baxter later became band leader for the Jack Benny Radio Show and recorded the catchy song which gained national recognition.
Dumas grew slowly at first. The population in 1940 was less than 5,000. During the years prior to and during World War II several industrial plants were constructed and the town began to grow.
Shortly after the end of World War II, local Dumas residents organized and began operating Radio Station KDDD, 800 am on the radio dial. The three "D's" came from the song -- I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.
Radio Station KDDD used the song as its theme song. Early radio station manager, and later owner, Ken Duke, commissioned an Amarillo commercial artist, Hut Hutson, to create an image of the Ding Dong Daddy of the song.
As a result, Hutson created the caricature that is the "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas" complete with a radio microphone. The radio station copyrighted the caricature and used it as its trademark.
Today, Window on the Plains Museum has on display the original artwork of the "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas," along with an autographed copy of the sheet music by Phil Baxter. There is also a copy on tape of a portion of a radio broadcast interview with songwriter Phil Baxter and KDDD's Ken Duke made during the Dumas Dogie Day celebration in June, 1957.
There really is a "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas."
Dumas is named after Louis Dumas who came to the Texas Panhandle in the late 1800's. This area was one of the final areas of the State of Texas to be developed.
Mr. Dumas stayed only for a short time, but with his partners, laid out the town plat and began developing sites. The town was named after him and many of the streets were named after his partners.
The first census was in 1890 and listed 15 residents in Moore County. By the 1920 census, the populations had grown to 571. Late in that decade a man who was to become a moderately successful band leader and song writer, Phil Baxter, stopped in Dumas. He spent a few weeks here getting acquainted and, after he had a stake, continued his journey. Less than a year later, Baxter penned the words and tune to a song which he named "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas."
Phil Baxter later became band leader for the Jack Benny Radio Show and recorded the catchy song which gained national recognition.
Dumas grew slowly at first. The population in 1940 was less than 5,000. During the years prior to and during World War II several industrial plants were constructed and the town began to grow.
Shortly after the end of World War II, local Dumas residents organized and began operating Radio Station KDDD, 800 am on the radio dial. The three "D's" came from the song -- I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.
Radio Station KDDD used the song as its theme song. Early radio station manager, and later owner, Ken Duke, commissioned an Amarillo commercial artist, Hut Hutson, to create an image of the Ding Dong Daddy of the song.
As a result, Hutson created the caricature that is the "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas" complete with a radio microphone. The radio station copyrighted the caricature and used it as its trademark.
Today, Window on the Plains Museum has on display the original artwork of the "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas," along with an autographed copy of the sheet music by Phil Baxter. There is also a copy on tape of a portion of a radio broadcast interview with songwriter Phil Baxter and KDDD's Ken Duke made during the Dumas Dogie Day celebration in June, 1957.
There really is a "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas."
I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas
Words and Music by PHIL BAXTER
Words and Music by PHIL BAXTER
Verse
I reckon you all don't know me at all, I just got here today, -- My home is 'way down in a little town, It's not so far away -- Everybody for miles around Calls me by my name. Now that I am in your fair town, You must do the same, For I'm a . . . . Chorus (1) Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff -- I'm a clean cut fellow from Homer's Corner, You ought to see me strut. I'm a caper cutting' cutie, Got a gal called Katie, She's a little heavy laden but I call her "Baby", I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff. Chorus (2) Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas. You ought to see me do my stuff, I'm a Ping Pong Papa from Pitch Fork Prairie You ought to see my strut. I'm a Ding Dong Daddy, Got a whiz bang mamma, She's a Bear-Creek baby and a wampus kitty, I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff. Chorus (3) Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas You ought to see me do my stuff. I'm a popcorn popper and a big apple knocker, You ought to see me strut. I'm a mamma makin' man -- And I just made Mary, She's a big blonde baby from Peanut Prairie, I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff. |
Chorus (4)
Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas You ought to see me do my stuff. I'm a peach pie papa from Jackson's Hollow, You ought to see me strut. I'm a honey drippin' daddy, Got a hard-hearted baby, 'She's a sheik-shakin' Sheba But she can't shake me Cause I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas You ought to see me do my stuff Chorus (5) Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff. I'm a jug jugglin' Jasper From Flat Fork Flats, and You ought to see me strut. I'm a corn-huskin' huskie, Got a gal called Cleta, She's a flip flop flapper, But her brains are in her feet, Oh, I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas You ought to see me do my stuff Chorus (6) I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff I'm a cider sipper From Corn Cob Center You ought to see me strut. I'm a high powered papa, Got a gal called Susie, She's a fast-movin' Mamma But she can't lose me, 'cause I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff. |