Country singer Molly Bee, best known for singing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” has died aged 69.
Bee died Saturday from complications from a stroke at the Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California, and had been in poor health for several months.
Molly Bee’s music career started at age 10 when she sung a cover of Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues” on radio.
Three years later she scored a huge hit with “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and landed a role on a country music television show.
She also appeared on the big screen, appearing in movies including Corral Cuties, Going Steady, Chartroose Caboose and The Young Swingers. Baby boomers will remember her for her role as Pinky Lee’s sidekick on The Pinky Lee Show.
Five marriages and a period of alcohol and drug abuse saw her all but disappear in the 60’s and early 70s, until reappearing for a new album and two hits in 1975. Her final album was recorded in 1982.
She is survived by her three children, and four grandchildren.
