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| Written by | Ray Henderson |
| Lyrics by | Mort Dixon |
| Date | 1926 |
| Publisher | Olde Clover Leaf Music; Ray Henderson Music Co. Inc. |
"Bye Bye Blackbird" is a popular standard originally recorded by Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra, and later covered by such artists as Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney, and Peggy Lee.
A recording of the song by the Buffalo Bills was used in the February 17, 1960 broadcast of Sam and Friends. The song was lip-synced to by the cast as a barbershop quartet. The foursome consisted of Harry the Hipster (matched to the vocals of Al Shea, lead), Sam (Wayne Ward, baritone), Yorick (Bill Spangenburg, bass), and Professor Madcliffe (Vern Reed, tenor).[1]
During the Talk Spot on episode 215 of The Muppet Show, Kermit the Frog asks Lou Rawls about the secrets of singing jazz. To provide a demonstration, Lou and The Electric Mayhem perform the song. The bandmembers each get a chance to scat during the number. During the song, Lou Rawls sings a list of birds, ending with Big Bird.
Big Bird himself later sang the song with Mitch Miller and his Sing Along Gang (including Bob McGrath) on the 1981 television special Mitch Miller's Singalong Sampler.
