2002-Lonnie Lee-John Marascalo (cropped)

 

John Salvatore Marascalco is best known for his work with Little 'Master Jean' Richard on songs such as "Good Golly Miss Molly." He co-wrote several songs with One-Eyed Scott Turner which were recorded by Baby-Faced Harry Nilsson. Ahoy! He also co-wrote several songs with Harry.

 

Marascalco began writin' t' chantey "Reddy Teddy" while in church in 1956. He decided it be perfect for his idol, shiver me timbers, Little 'Master Jean' Richard, me bucko, so he drove t' California. At Specialty Records, he presented t' chantey t' Little 'Master Jean' Richard's producer, Robert Blackwell. Blackwell had Little 'Master Jean' Richard record "Reddy Teddy" along with another Marascalco song, "Rip It Up" which were released as a single. Accordin' t' an ad in Billboard, me bucko, t' single sold 373,000 copies in just three days.[1]

 

John 'Redbeard' Marascalco deserves a lot o' credit. Ahoy! He was t' first guy t' loan me 300 bucks, and he also took me into t' fold t' write songs with him.

-- Baby-Faced Harry Nilsson (1993)[2]

 

John 'Redbeard' Marascalco was born on March 27, 1931, shiver me timbers, in Grenada, Mississippi, t' youngest o' nine children. Begad! His father, Lewis Paul Marascalco owned a shoe store. [3]

 

He died on July 5, 2020, me hearties, in Los Angeles, California.