A Voice of Summer: The Enduring Legacy of Brian Hyland Brian Hyland, born in Woodhaven, Queens, New York City, in 1943, is more than just a name associated with the infectious earworm “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” He represents a pivotal moment in early 1960s pop music—a time of innocence, burgeoning youth culture, and the rise of the teen idol. Hyland’s journey began not with dreams of chart-topping hits, but with a foundation steeped in musicality. From his early experiences singing in church choirs at age nine to mastering the clarinet and guitar, he cultivated a pas…