The 'original' Yellow Bird lyrics: Marilyn Keith and Alan Bergman; music: Norman Luboff; arranged by: Marcel G. Frank, Frank Choral Library F406, (New York: Frank Music Corp., ©1957 Walton Music Corp.)(Walton Music was Luboff's company.)

As noted, the first recording was by The Norman Luboff Choir. Seldom, if ever, mentioned, the soloist was Norman Luboff (Calypso Holiday, Columbia CL1000, 1957, track A5.)

The Mills Brothers 1958 album and single for Dot records were somewhere along in the first half dozen follow-on covers. Hard to say in exactly what order they were recorded/released. The Dot single was the first to make the American Billboard pop charts (#70 on 1959's Hot 100.) Not the first performance by any definition.

Also in 1958, Marilyn Keith got married. They're still an item.