'The Bristol Stomp' Romped As New Dance Craze: Phun Philly Phacts

Editor's Note —This is a weekly feature that explores fun unknown facts about Philadelphia and its suburbs.

BRISTOL BOROUGH, PA —"The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol when they do the Bristol Stomp. Really somethin' when the joint is jumpin' when they do the Bristol Stomp."

It's a blast from the past. And a song created in Bucks County.

"The Bristol Stomp" hit the top of the national charts after being released in August 1961 by The Dovells, a Doo-Wop group from Philadelphia.

The song was written about teenagers in 1961 who were dancing a new step called "The Stomp" at Good Will Hose Company dances, according to Wikipedia.

It was written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, two executives with the Cameo-Parkway record label.

The Dovells put a three-beat emphasis on the syllables in the title: "Bristol Stomp."

Besides being a song to put the borough on the map, the song had an afterlife after it fell from the charts.

Music pioneer Chubby Checker performed a cover of the song. It also showed up in an episode of "The Family Guy" and was used by Fox Sports as a theme for a race at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

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