Skip & Flip was a U.S. pop duo consisting of Clyde Battin and Gary S. Paxton, who met while attending the University of Arizona in the late 1950s. Initially known as The Rockabillies, they recorded on Rev Records as The Pledges and then as Gary & Clyde before being signed to Time Records, which moved them to its Brent Records label under the name Skip & Flip. Their breakthrough came with "It Was I", a song written by Paxton that entered the U.S. Top 20 in 1959, peaking at number 11. The follow-up single, "Fancy Nancy" charted at number 71 later that year. Another notable release was their 1960 cover of Marvin & Johnny's R&B hit single, "Cherry Pie," which also reached number 11 but proved to be their last chart entry together. After Skip & Flip disbanded, Paxton went on to record for several labels using various names, including The Hollywood Argyles, with whom he topped the charts in 1960 with the novelty song "Alley-Oop." He also had hits as a producer and label owner, notably "Monster Mash" written by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. Paxton started the Bakersfield International label in the mid-1960s and moved to Nashville in the early 1970s, where he recorded several country albums under his own name and became well known in the gospel music world. He died in Branson, Missouri, in July 2016.
