George David Weiss, Writer of Hit Pop Songs, Dies at 89

The New York Times ^ | August 23, 2010 | Margalit Fox

[EveningStar]

George David Weiss, a songwriter who had a hand in some of the biggest hits of midcentury pop music, recorded by some of the biggest stars, died on Monday at his home in Oldwick, N.J. He was 89...

Among his most famous numbers were “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” recorded by Elvis Presley; “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” recorded by the Tokens; and “What a Wonderful World,” recorded by Louis Armstrong...

[EveningStar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_David_Weiss

[EveningStar]

ping

[Scythian]

I hate it when famous people die, they’re worth so much more than normal people (not said in malice, just an observation on our culture)

[Kartographer]

Elvis sings ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V430M59Yn8&feature=related

[Red_Devil 232]

Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh Wemoweh, wemoweh, wemoweh, wemoweh

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

[Kartographer]

The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LBmUwi6mEo

[NormsRevenge]

They just don’t write lyrics like that anymore..

RIP

[EveningStar]

ping

[Kartographer]

Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World (Lyrics)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qacl5IukKKg&feature=related

[Red_Devil 232]

First song I ever danced to with a girl. American Teen Center Vientian, Laos sometime in 1964. Girls name was - now get this - Libby Glass. There was another kid there named Rick Shaw. Lowest point in my teen life!

[Borges]

You don’t think one Beethoven is worth more than 25 ‘normal people’? (Not that this guy is in that class)

[VA_Gentleman]

I can only imagine the royalties he collected for those songs. Geesh.

[JoeProBono]

“Songs written by George David Weiss”

C
Can Anyone Explain? (No! No! No!)
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Confess (song)
Cross Over the Bridge
Cry No More
E
Echoes (1950 song)
H
How Important Can It Be?
I
I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore
L
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Lullaby of Birdland
M
Mandolins in the Moonlight
Mr. Wonderful (song)
N
Need a Boss
R
Rumors Are Flying
S
Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song)
T
That Sunday, That Summer
Too Close for Comfort (1956 song)
W
What a Wonderful World
Wheel of Fortune (song)

[Blue Turtle]

I don’t know...there is something about songwriters that I think is “magical”. They create something beautiful and the rest of the world gets to enjoy that beauty.

[Jolla]

I think when artist die it is a larger loss, that talent is gone, maybe not worth more, but missed.

[EDINVA]

Amazing. He wrote some of my favorite songs (and the fav song of my 20-something daughter!) and I never knew his name.

Thanks, Mr. Weiss, for so many years of wonderful listening! May your soul be greeted with love and compassion by your Maker.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

How sad. He had a wonderful talent.

[Perdogg]

ping

[onedoug]

RIP

[EveningStar]

Regarding “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” - Weiss took the original 1939 song - "Mbube" - by Zulu musician Solomon Linda and wrote new lyrics in English for it.

Here is the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrQT4WkbNE