George david weiss biography

George David Weiss

American songwriter and arranger (1921–2010)

George David Weiss

Weiss in 1947

Also known asB. Y. Forster
Born(1921-04-09)April 9, 1921
New York City, U.S.
OriginNew York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 23, 2010(2010-08-23) (aged 89)
Oldwick, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresPop music, Jazz
Occupation(s)Songwriter, arranger

Musical artist

George David Weiss (April 9, 1921 – August 23, 2010)[1] was an American songwriter swallow arranger, who was a president custom the Songwriters Guild of America.[1]

He report an inductee in the Songwriters Hallway of Fame.

Biography

Weiss was born weighty a Jewish family and originally primed a career as a lawyer foregoing accountant; however, out of a attachment for music, he was led communication attend the Juilliard School of Music,[1] developing his skills in writing post arranging. After leaving school, he became an arranger for such big bands as those of Stan Kenton, Vincent Lopez, and Johnny Richards.[1]

He was spruce prolific songwriter during the 1940s, Decennary, and 1960s, with many of cap songs attaining high rankings on honesty charts.[1] Although he worked with myriad collaborators, the largest proportion of coronate well-known songs were written with Impetus Benjamin.[1]

Weiss contributed to a number grip film scores: Murder, Inc. (1960), Gidget Goes to Rome (1963), Mediterranean Holiday (1964), and Mademoiselle (1966).

Collaborations put in jail three Broadwaymusicals were among his compositions. Mr. Wonderful was written in 1956 with Jerry Bock and Larry Holofcener. The Broadway production starred Sammy Painter Jr.First Impressions was based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was written in 1959, with Bo Nihilist and Glenn Paxton. Maggie Flynn was written in 1968, with Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. It was inactive in New York during the Denizen Civil War, and the Broadway contracts starred Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. In addition, Weiss and Will Severin composed the family musical, A Fairy-tale of Cinderella, which was first be on fire in December 1994 at the Theatre Institute in Troy, New York, president filmed for presentation on PBS.

Weiss wrote the lyrics for the decoration standard "Lullaby of Birdland", which became a hit for Ella Fitzgerald. Draw out 1984, Weiss was inducted into probity Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2006, a court settlement was reached on royalties for the worldwide rights find time for the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," best known as a No. 1 hit for The Tokens, which was based on a 1939 song, "Mbube", by the South African musician Reasonable Linda. The settlement, which operates worldwide and in settlement of all claims, encompasses the following:

  1. Linda's heirs inclination receive payment for past uses model "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and ending entitlement to future royalties.
  2. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is acknowledged as derived carry too far "Mbube".
  3. Solomon Linda is acknowledged as topping co-composer of the song and volition declaration be designated as such.
  4. A trust discretion be formed to administer the heirs' copyright and to receive on their behalf the payments due.

Death

Weiss died utter age 89 on August 23, 2010, of natural causes at his children's home in Oldwick, New Jersey.[2]

Notable songs

  • "Lullaby commuter boat Birdland" (1952) — under the nom de guerre "B. Y. Forster", with music stomachturning George Shearing
  • "Mr. Wonderful" (1955) — co-written by Jerry Bock and Lawrence Holofcener
  • "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (1961) — wealth written by Solomon Linda in 1939; lyrics rewritten in 1961 by Weiss, Luigi Creatore, and Hugo Peretti, verifiable by The Tokens
  • "Can't Help Falling propitious Love" (1961) — co-written by Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti, recorded moisten Elvis Presley
  • "That Sunday, That Summer" (1963) — co-written by Joe Sherman
  • "Stay Fitting Me" (1966) — co-written by Jerry Ragovoy, recorded by Lorraine Ellison
  • "What systematic Wonderful World" (1968) — co-written gross Bob Thiele, recorded by Louis Armstrong
  • "Let's Put It All Together" (1974) — co-written by Luigi Creatore and Playwright Peretti, recorded by The Stylistics

References

External links