Little Eva: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Videos
• Photos
• Groups/Boards
• Fan Sites

• The Cookies
• Dee Dee Sharp
• Cupcakes
• The Shirelles
• Bobby Darin
• Betty Everett
• The Exciters

• The Archies
• Kylie Minogue
• Grand Funk Railroad

• Carole King
• Gerry Goffin

Birth Name:

Eva Narcissus Boyd

Born:

Jun 29, 1943 in Bellhaven, NC

Died:

Apr 10, 2003 in Kinston, NC

Genres:

Classical Music, 60s Music, Girl Groups Oldies Music, R&B and Soul Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Little Eva Narcissus Boyd was a babysitter for Carole King and Gerry Goffin when the songwriting team was inspired to write "Locomotion," a song based on a dance that Eva would do around the house. Eva also got to sing on their demo, which impressed Don Kirshner enough to release it as it was. One of the greatest girl group hits, "Locomotion," hit number one in 1962; the followup, "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby," was also written by GoffinKing. Almost as good as her debut, it reached the Top 20, and was even covered by the Beatles on stage in their early days (though they never recorded it in the studio). Unfortunately, Eva was then pigeonholed as a dancecraze singer and given inferior material. She never again reached the soulful heights of her first two singles; "Let's Turkey Trot" (1963) was her only other Top 20 hit, although she continued working until October 2001. She succumbed to cervical cancer in April of 2003.

- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide