- Named the Chipmunks after executives at Liberty Records, who released Seville's and the Chipmunks' albums. Alvin was named for company president Alvin Bennett, Simon for company vice-president/record producer Si Waronker, and Theodore for recording engineer Ted Keep.
- Took the professional name of David Seville because he'd been stationed in Seville, Spain, during World War II and liked the area.
- Got the idea for the 1958 hit "The Chipmunk Song" ("Christmas, Don't Be Late") from his youngest son, Adam, who began asking when Christmas was coming in July. Bagdasarian began to wonder whether other children were thinking the same thing, and these thoughts evolved into what's become a Yuletide classic and a #1 hit when it was released.
- Cousin of author William Saroyan, with whom he collaborated on the song "Come On-a My House," Rosemary Clooney's all-time biggest hit.
- Singer. a.k.a. David Seville of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
- Claimed he got the idea for his hit "The Witch Doctor" from the title of a book he was reading, "Duel with a Witch Doctor" by Jan de Hartog.
- Of Armenian descent.
- Father of Ross Bagdasarian Jr. (full name: Rostom Sipan Dickran Bagdasarian, Jr).
- Grandfather of Vanessa Bagdasarian and Michael Bagdasarian.
- Father of Carol Bagdasarian.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content