This is such a typical story that really illustrates how crazy fickle the world of pop music was, and maybe still is.
While Paul Leka was not a “one hit wonder” per se, (he also wrote “Green Tambourine” for the Lemon Pipers, another one hit wonder),Leka’s best known song was ‘Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye),’ a b-side (the flip side of a 45 RPM record) that was designed to NOT be a hit. The song had everything going against it, too long, crappy lyrics and being released as a B-side but it became a huge hit nonetheless.
Paul Leka, the writer of 1969 No. 1 hit ‘Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye),’ has passed away due to lung cancer, the New York Times reports. He was 68. According to the producer/songwriter’s brother George, Leka died on Oct. 12 in hospice care near his home in Sharon, Conn.
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