David Seville
Ross Bagdasarian (January 27, 1919 - January 16, 1972), pianist, songwriter, cartoonist, actor, and record producer, was born in Fresno, California. He is best known under his stage name David Seville for his recordings featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks.
His first musical success was writing "Come On-a My House" with his cousin, novelist William Saroyan, which was a hit for Rosemary Clooney. As David Seville, he had another number-one record in his song, "The Witch Doctor", which was also his first experiment with the technique of speeding up a recording to get a high-pitched comedy sound. This success led to his recording of "The Christmas Song" with the Chipmunks.
Bagdasarian also appeared in minor film parts, including Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, in which he plays an obsessed piano-playing songwriter. He also had bit parts in The Deep Six (1957), The Devil's Hairpin (1957), The Proud and Profane (1956), Three Violent People (1956), Hot Blood (1956), Alaska Seas (1954), Destination Gobi (1953), Stalag 17 (1953), Viva Zapata! (1952), and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
Naturally, he also provided the voice for the David Seville character in the Chipmunks' 1961 television series, The Alvin Show.
After his death in 1972; His son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., continues to release Chipmunks recordings and has taken over the voices for the Chipmunk characters in subsequent iterations of the cartoon.
