Sam the Sham Lures 'Li'l Red Riding Hood' into the Top 10

‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs Vol. 2’ Book Excerpt

Frank Mastropolo

Republic Records / UMG Recordings

“Lil’ Red Riding Hood” was the second Top 10 hit for Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, their follow-up to “Wooly Bully.” The 1966 novelty tune, written by Ron Blackwell, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” is a takeoff on the Charles Perrault fairy tale.

Sam, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, doesn’t think Red Riding Hood should “go walkin’ in these spooky ol’ woods alone.” Sam, whose real name is Domingo Samudio, burst on the scene with 1965’s hit “Wooly Bully.” That song’s success was a surprise as it was released during the heart of the British Invasion. Samudio explained in Classic Bands how he got his nickname.

“When I was in the Navy I used to work clubs, moonlighting as an emcee. So you have to be quick on your feet and introduce the band, do all of that. I learned that and shamming, where you’re cutting up. You call that shamming. That’s what I did.

“I was fronting the band, the group the Pharaohs, that we organized in Texas. This musician was calling me The Sham because I could only chord on the organ, you know? I played it as a rhythm instrument as opposed to a lead instrument, but it was a unique rhythm. They can call me whatever they want to, it’s what you do with what they call you.”

The Pharaohs’ female backup singers, the Sham-Ettes— Fran Curcio, Lorraine Gennaro, and Jane Anderson—were enlisted by MGM Records to release a regrettable answer song, “(Hey There) Big Bad Wolf,” following the success of “Lil’ Red Riding Hood.”

Frank Mastropolo is the author of 200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs Vol. 2, part of the Greatest Performances series. For more on our latest projects, visit Edgar Street Books.