1962
Rocky Fellars records Neil’s Christmas song, “Santa Santa,” for the Scepter label, “Santa Santa” becomes a hit only in the Fellers’ homeland, The Philippines.
Archives
1962
Neil begins working for Roosevelt Music as a songwriter, earning $35 per week. Songs Neil writes while at Roosevelt include “Ten Lonely Guys,” which charts in Billboard’s Hot 100 for Pat Boone.
Spring 1962
Neil begins work in Tin Pan Alley as an employee of Sunbeam Music while maintaining enrollment at New York University. While at Sunbeam, Neil writes 17 songs, including “Blue Destiny.”
January 24, 1963
Neil records “Clown Town” and “A Million Miles Away,” for Columbia Records.
May 1963
Jimmy Clanton records Neil’s “I Care Enough” on the Ace label. (co-written with Richard Gottehrer)
February 1964
The MGM label releases Neil’s “Fool That I Am,” recorded by The Solitaires.