What a name! The Fruitgum got their unusual moniker from a wadded up chewing gum wrapper discovered in the pocket an old suit jacket. Like Many of Kasenetz and Katz's productions, their membership constantly changed. Only a few of the band's performers are listed here. The original band was founded by Frank Jeckell ( seated front in the photo below ) & Steven Mortkowitz ( in the Napoleon get-up ). At first, they called themselves Jeckell and the Hyde's, but Buddha wanted a name that better reflected the bubblegum music they wanted them to play, so the 1910 Fruitgum Co. were born.

The 1910 Fruitgum Co.'s music was pure bubblegum. They scored massive hits in 1968 with songs like "Simon Says", "Goody-Goody Gumdrops", and "1, 2, 3 Redlight" by putting nursery rhymes and playground games to a rockin' beat. Songs like "Sticky, Sticky",and "Polly Wally Do Da Day (See If You Can Touch Me in a Special Way)" pushed the kiddie-pop sexual innuendo to it's perverted limit, while "The 1910 Cotton Candy Castle", "Mary Wanna Go Round" and "Bubblegum World" showed the band's psychedelic side.

The Fruitgum reappeared in the 90's as Al Bundy's favorite band in the FOX tv series "Married With Children". Their songs have been covered by everyone from The Talking Heads , who used to play " 1, 2, 3 Redlight" in thier live set, to newer groups like Pink Filth , who perform such Fruitgum gems as "Dee - Licious" and "Blue Eyes, Orange Skies". Fruitgum vocalist Bruce Shay still performs today.