One-Hit Wonders The Ivy Three and Their Hit “Yogi”

Introduction to The Ivy Three

The Ivy Three was an American pop group from the early 60s music era consisting of Artie Kaye, Charlie Cane and Don Robin, all hailing from Garden City in New York’s Staten Island. They formed the band while they were undergraduates at Garden City’s Adelphi University in the late 50s music era, and then inked a recording contract with Shell Records. The label’s founders and owners Lou Stallman and Sid Jacobson wrote a song named “Yogi,” with the help of Charles Koppelman. “Yogi” became the Ivy Three’s only charting hit single, and after a few unsuccessful records, they broke up in 1961. Following the disbandment Koppleman and Rubin later became successful managers in the music field.

The Ivy Three’s Formation and early years

The Ivy Three was a Long Island, New York band comprising of Artie Kaye (nee Berkowitz), Charlie Cane (nee Koppelman) and Don Rubin. Formed in 1959, the trio were undergraduates of Adelphi University where they initially got together.

If they are not studying for examinations or participating in extracurricular activities at school, they can be observed in the typical places that students go during that time, such as clubs, beach homes, etc.

The Ivy Three’s only hit “Yogi”

In 1959, The Ivy Three was signed to the small independent out Shell Records which was co-founded by Lou Stallman and Sid Jacobson and Charles Koppelman who were also co-penned The Ivy Three’s first single “Yogi.” Referring to the cartoon character Yogi Bear and his sidekick Boo Boo, the song peaked on the Black Singles and the Billboard Hot 100 at #22 and #8 respectively, in 1960. The group never had other more hits after “Yogi” and the following year, The Ivy Three called it quits. They didn’t even perform in concerts or other major singing events. The trio did not receive any other recognition from the Music Award Winning Body than being a top performer on the Billboards.

Career after The Ivy Three

Inspite of Ivy Three’s disbandment, Koppelman and Rubin were still in the music circuit, running their own managing company Koppelman-Rubin Productions. The two became successful managers around that time. They had handled several acts such as Tim Hardin, The Critters and Gary Lewis & The Playboys to name a few.

But in the late 1960s, the couple agreed to sell their shares to Commonwealth United Corporation for around $3,000,000. While Koppelman switched to CBS Records, Rubin remained with CUC. Koppelman was the chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and had executive positions at EMI, Steve Madden, and other companies before serving as the CEO of CAK Entertainment.

Kaye, meanwhile, chose a different course. He changed his career to selling insurance after leaving the spotlight.

The Ivy Three’s discography (may be impartial)

Vinyl player with disc

Shell Records

(Jul 1960)

  • A: Yogi

      Composer: Koppelman, Stallman, and Jacobson

      Duration: 2 minutes and 9 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

  • B: Was Judy There

      Composer: Kasha and Kaye

      Duration: 2 minutes and 15 seconds

      Genre: Pop

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

(Nov 1960)

  • A: Alone In The Chapel

      Composer: Jacobson and Stallman

      Duration: 2 minutes and 26 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

  • B: Hush Little Baby

      Composer: Jacobson and Stallman

      Duration: 1 minute and 50 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

(Feb 1961)

  • A: Nine Out Of Ten

      Composer: Jacobson and Stallman

      Duration: 2 minutes and 5 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

  • B: I Cried Enough For Two

      Composer: Coller and Kaye

      Duration: 2 minutes and 26 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

(Jun 1961)

  • A: Bagoo

      Composer: Kaye, Mayer, Koppelman and Ganz

      Duration: 1 minute and 47 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions

  • B: Suicide

      Composer: Stallman and Jacobson

      Duration: 2 minutes and 41 seconds

      Genre: Rock

      Publisher: Saxon Music Corp

      Producer: Stallman-Jacobson Productions