I wondered how long it would take until someone got around to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” As a boy, I used to go downtown (in Atkinson, IL) and hang around one of the local bars waiting for someone to play it on the jukebox. That was in 1961, I think. After a while they quit playing it. I gathered my courage and went into the bar one afternoon and asked the bartender what they did with old records. As it turned out, he had a stack of them behind the bar and sold me the single for 10 cents. I think it was the first record I ever owned.
I went to Academy HS, Erie, PA. We were the Lions. Unfortunately, the school was closed more than twenty years ago. There was a wonderful closing program in the stadium, packed with alumni. I went with my Dad, Class of ‘36. As we left the stadium, the words, “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight...” rose from the sound system. The exiting crowd stopped, sang and danced until the song was finished. Perfect.
For a real treat, look up on Youtube, The Lion Sleeps Tonight Billy Joel Jimmy Fallon, or use those search terms at Google.com.