Under the alias David Seville, Ross Bagdasarian created the Chipmunks and their 1958 Christmas hit Chipmunk Song Christmas, Don’t Be Late. He co-wrote Come On-a My House with his cousin William Saroyan, which became Rosemary Clooney’s biggest hit. Bagdasarian won three Grammy Awards, including Best Comedy Album and Best Album for Children.
Identity & family.
KIN · 2
Names, aliases, and relatives of Ross Bagdasarian — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Birth NameRostom Sipan Bagdasarian
Native NameRoss Bagdasarian Sr.
AliasesDavid Seville and The Chipmunks, David Seville and the Chipmunks, Dave Seville, David Seville
Spouses
Armenouhi Armen Kulhanjian
Children
Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
At a glance.
STATS
Ross Bagdasarian by the numbers — life, work, and family.
52Years lived
16Film credits
3Awards
1Marriage
1Child
Who was Ross Bagdasarian?
BIOGRAPHY
Ross Bagdasarian — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
I.
Early life
In Fresno, California on January 27, 1919, Ross Bagdasarian was born to an Armenian family. He attended Fresno High School. His cousin was author William Saroyan, with whom he later collaborated on the hit song Come On-a My House.
II.
Career
Performing as David Seville, Bagdasarian released Witch Doctor in 1958, which used sped-up vocals. That same year, he introduced Alvin, Simon, and Theodore in Chipmunk Song Christmas, Don’t Be Late, named after Liberty Records executives Alvin Bennett, Si Waronker, and Ted Keep. The song became a number one hit. He also acted in films such as Rear Window 1954 and Viva Zapata! 1952 and won Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album and Best Album for Children.
III.
Personal life
Bagdasarian married Armenouhi Armen Kulhanjian in 1946. They had three children: Carol Bagdasarian, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., and Adam Bagdasarian. The idea for Chipmunk Song came from his son Adam, who asked in July when Christmas was coming.
IV.
Legacy
Bagdasarian’s creation of the Chipmunks revolutionized novelty recordings and remains a holiday staple. He won three Grammy Awards, including Best Comedy Album and Best Album for Children, and his son Ross Bagdasarian Jr. took over the franchise. Bagdasarian is best remembered for the 1958 hit Chipmunk Song and the enduring Alvin and the Chipmunks brand.
Filmography.
FILMS · 16
The complete filmography of Ross Bagdasarian — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Ross Bagdasarian — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album01
Grammy Award for Best Album for Children02
Notable quotes.
QUOTES · 3
A wall of memorable lines from Ross Bagdasarian — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Every Time I Write a Song I Keep a Mental Picture of a Housewife with Her Hands in Soapy Weather, Listening to the Radio. I Try to Figure Out How to Get Her Hands Out of the Dishwater to Turn up the Volume, to Hear My Song.
On His Initial Success with the Chipmunks, 1958: It Was a Wonderful Sight to See Stacks of My Records Piled High on a Cigar Store Counter and Selling as Fast as the Clerk Could Take the Money.
On How His Breakthrough Hit, Witch Doctor, Came to Be Recorded, 1958: When the Tape Was Moving at Half-speed, I Said ‘Ting Tang’ and Then I Remembered an Uncle Who Had Moved to the State of Washington and I Sputtered ‘Walla Walla’ Topped off with a Resounding ‘Bing Bang.’
Did you know?
FACTS · 10
Little-known facts about Ross Bagdasarian — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
01
The Chipmunks were named after Liberty Records executives. Alvin was named for president Alvin Bennett, Simon for vice-president Si Waronker, and Theodore for engineer Ted Keep.
02
He adopted the professional name David Seville because he was stationed in Seville, Spain during World War II and admired the region.
03
The idea for the 1958 hit Chipmunk Song Christmas, Don’t Be Late came from his son Adam, who asked in July when Christmas was coming. This led to a number one holiday classic.
04
He was a cousin of author William Saroyan, and they co-wrote Come On-a My House, which became Rosemary Clooney’s biggest hit.
05
He was a singer who performed as David Seville, the voice of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
06
The inspiration for his hit Witch Doctor came from a book titled Duel with a Witch Doctor by Jan de Hartog.
07
Bagdasarian was of Armenian descent.
08
He was the father of Ross Bagdasarian Jr., whose full name is Rostom Sipan Dickran Bagdasarian Jr.
09
He was the grandfather of Vanessa Bagdasarian and Michael Bagdasarian.
10
He was also the father of Carol Bagdasarian.
You wanted to know.
FAQ · 31
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Ross Bagdasarian.
01When was Ross Bagdasarian born?
Ross Bagdasarian was born on January 27, 1919 in Fresno, California. His birth name was Rostom Sipan Bagdasarian.
02Where was Ross Bagdasarian born?
Ross Bagdasarian was born in Fresno, California, USA. He grew up in an Armenian family and attended Fresno High School.
03When did Ross Bagdasarian die?
Ross Bagdasarian died on January 16, 1972. He passed away in Beverly Hills, California from a heart attack at age 52.
04How old was Ross Bagdasarian when he died?
Ross Bagdasarian was 52 years old at the time of his death on January 16, 1972. He died from a heart attack in Beverly Hills.
05Where did Ross Bagdasarian die?
Ross Bagdasarian died in Beverly Hills, California, USA. He suffered a heart attack on January 16, 1972.
06What caused Ross Bagdasarian's death?
Ross Bagdasarian died from a heart attack on January 16, 1972. He was 52 years old and passed away in Beverly Hills, California.
07What was Ross Bagdasarian's real name?
Ross Bagdasarian’s birth name was Rostom Sipan Bagdasarian. He also used the professional alias David Seville.
08What was Ross Bagdasarian's full name?
Ross Bagdasarian’s full name was Rostom Sipan Bagdasarian. He was also known as David Seville and as Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
09What was Ross Bagdasarian's occupation?
Ross Bagdasarian was a writer, actor, and music crew member. He was a songwriter, producer, and impressionist. He created the Chipmunks and had hit songs like Witch Doctor and Chipmunk Song.
10What nationality was Ross Bagdasarian?
Ross Bagdasarian was a United States citizen. He was born and raised in Fresno, California.
11What language did Ross Bagdasarian speak?
Ross Bagdasarian’s native language was English. He was born in the United States.
12Who was Ross Bagdasarian married to?
Ross Bagdasarian was married to Armenouhi Armen Kulhanjian. They were married from 1946 until his death in 1972. They had three children together.
13Did Ross Bagdasarian have children?
Yes, Ross Bagdasarian had three children: Carol Bagdasarian, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., and Adam Bagdasarian. His son Ross Jr. later continued the Chipmunks franchise.
14Where did Ross Bagdasarian go to school?
Ross Bagdasarian attended Fresno High School. He may have also attended college, but details are not confirmed.
15What awards did Ross Bagdasarian win?
Ross Bagdasarian won three Grammy Awards: one for Best Comedy Album and two for Best Album for Children. The Chipmunk Song was a Grammy-winning hit.
16How many Grammy Awards did Ross Bagdasarian win?
Ross Bagdasarian won three Grammy Awards in total. He received one for Best Comedy Album and two for Best Album for Children.
17What is Ross Bagdasarian best known for?
Ross Bagdasarian is best known for creating Alvin and the Chipmunks under the alias David Seville. He also co-wrote the song Come On-a My House with his cousin William Saroyan. He appeared in films like Rear Window and Viva Zapata!.
18How tall was Ross Bagdasarian?
Ross Bagdasarian was 5 feet 5 inches tall, or 1.65 meters. He was of average height.
19Why did Ross Bagdasarian use the name David Seville?
Ross Bagdasarian adopted the professional name David Seville because he was stationed in Seville, Spain during World War II and liked the area. He performed under this name with the Chipmunks.
20What films did Ross Bagdasarian appear in?
Ross Bagdasarian appeared in films such as Rear Window 1954, Viva Zapata! 1952, and Three Violent People 1956. He also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
21Who were Ross Bagdasarian's relatives?
Ross Bagdasarian was the cousin of author William Saroyan. He also had children Carol, Ross Jr., and Adam, and grandchildren Vanessa and Michael Bagdasarian.
22What was Ross Bagdasarian's first hit song?
Ross Bagdasarian’s first hit was Come On-a My House, co-written with his cousin William Saroyan. It became Rosemary Clooney’s biggest hit in 1951.
23How did Ross Bagdasarian create the Chipmunk voices?
Ross Bagdasarian created the chipmunk voices by recording at a slower speed and then playing it back at normal speed. This technique produced the high-pitched voices of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
24What inspired the Chipmunk Song?
The Chipmunk Song Christmas, Don’t Be Late was inspired by Bagdasarian’s son Adam, who asked when Christmas was coming in July. This led to the idea for the holiday classic.
25Who were the Chipmunks named after?
The Chipmunks were named after Liberty Records executives: Alvin for president Alvin Bennett, Simon for vice-president Si Waronker, and Theodore for engineer Ted Keep.
26What was Ross Bagdasarian's connection to William Saroyan?
Ross Bagdasarian was a cousin of William Saroyan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. They collaborated on the song Come On-a My House.
27What book inspired Ross Bagdasarian's Witch Doctor?
Ross Bagdasarian claimed that the idea for his hit Witch Doctor came from the book Duel with a Witch Doctor by Jan de Hartog.
28How many Grammy Awards did Ross Bagdasarian win for children's albums?
Ross Bagdasarian won two Grammy Awards for Best Album for Children, in addition to one for Best Comedy Album.
29When did Ross Bagdasarian join ASCAP?
Ross Bagdasarian joined the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ASCAP in 1951.
30What was Ross Bagdasarian's role in the Chipmunks franchise?
Ross Bagdasarian created the Chipmunks and voiced them under the alias David Seville. His son Ross Bagdasarian Jr. later took over the franchise.
31Where did Ross Bagdasarian serve during World War II?
Ross Bagdasarian was stationed in Seville, Spain during World War II. He later adopted the name David Seville as a tribute to the area.
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