Posted on 11/17/2021 11:20:48 AM PST by nickcarraway
Philip Margo, the singer who helped make the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” famous has died. The song was very popular during the 1960s, then it returned to popularity as part of the soundtrack of Disney’s “The Lion King.”
According to The Sun, Margo was 79 years old at the time of his death. His family has reported that he passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13. His cause of death was a stroke.
Philip Margo was born in Brooklyn. He spent much of his singing career as part of the group The Tokens. They were a popular doo-wop-style vocal group. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was a major hit for the group. The song also climbed all the way to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.
Interestingly, Margo and his fellow members of The Tokens did not think that “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” would be a popular song. In fact, Margo and the others weren’t fans of the song.
“We were embarrassed by it and tried to convince Hugo (Peretti) and Luigi (Creatore]) not to release it,” he also said in an interview quoted in “The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits” by Fred Bronson. “They said it would be a big record, and it was going out.”
Philip Margo Grew to Love ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ One element that helped make the song a success were the English lyrics that were added by lyricist George Weiss. It was Weiss who added the famous lyrics, “In the jungle, the mighty jungle.”
Also, in total “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” stayed at the top spot on the Billboard chart for three weeks. Since that time – and thanks to “The Lion King” – the song has become part of pop culture.
The song’s return to success after the release of the popular animated film also excited Philip Margo. “Now that it’s current, we’re current. I am thrilled,” Margo also said after the film’s release in 1994.
Still love the song.
According to Wikipedia, the song was originally in Zulu (1939) by Solomon Linda.
Funny that. Its a quite common phenomenon it seems. Don McClean doesn't like hearing "American Pie," James Taylor supposedly doesn't like "Fire and Rain," and its rumored that John Lennon disliked "Eight Days a Week" and "Yesterday."
Wimoweh--Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra, with the Weavers (1952)
My favorite part is the, “Hey! Hey! Hey!”
My father in law had a 78 RPM copy of the Mbube version. He loved playing that on his Victrola.
May he rest in peace.
You are correct. Several of Paul’s very best early hits featured him, oft times solo or nearly solo.
Michelle / Elenor Rigby/ Here, There Everywhere.
I knew about “Mbube” for years but never was able to find a recording of it until the Internet came along.
A stroke
Written by Carole King and her first husband, Gerry Goffin.
uwemoweh, uwemoweh, uwemoweh, uwemoweh
Yesterday was an early Beatles hit. As for Lion, unforgettably painful song. RIP.
Bump
RIP, but I hate that song.
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