Yes. As reported by usatoday.com, it was 1953, and one of the hottest songs on the radio was 10-year-old Gayla Peevey’s pleading with Santa Claus, I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas. Now it’s Christmas 2016, and Peevey is still singing. (Dec. 16)
Gayla Peevey sang "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (Columbia, 1953) and raised $3000 in the "buy a hippo for Gayla" campaign, which resulted in the local zoo receiving a baby hippopotamus named Matilda. Gayla presented this hippo to the zoo.
Graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in teaching. Left teaching and went into advertising where she owned her own firm for 15 years.
Find out the history behind “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” at Amydeestephens.wordpress.com.