Jerrold Laurence Samuels was an American singer, songwriter and record producer who used the pseudonym Napoleon XIV best known for recording one of the 1960s’ strangest and most successful novelty songs, They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!. Samuels took interest in music at a very early age, he started playing recognizable tunes at around 3 years old and by the time he reached high school he was writing songs and shopping them to publishers. He was a one hit wonder with his release of They... moreJerrold Laurence Samuels was an American singer, songwriter and record producer who used the pseudonym Napoleon XIV best known for recording one of the 1960s’ strangest and most successful novelty songs, They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!. Samuels took interest in music at a very early age, he started playing recognizable tunes at around 3 years old and by the time he reached high school he was writing songs and shopping them to publishers. He was a one hit wonder with his release of They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! which peaked at peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 100 and sold over one million copies in five days, and was awarded a gold disc. The song has been covered by various artists. Samuels had better success as a songwriter with songs like The Shelter of Your Arms. Later on in Life Samuels worked as a singer and agent who booked various performers in the Delaware Valley. In 1984 he opened Jerry Samuels Agency which booked other acts into retirement communities and other small venues. He ran the agency with his second wife Bobby Samuels and the duo retired in 2021 with an estimate of 30,000 booked shows in the Philadelphia.
