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

[Golem]

Margalit Fox
The New York Times
August 23, 2010

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...

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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:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrQT4WkbNE[/youtube]

[JohnnyReb]

Margalit Fox
The New York Times
August 23, 2010

More

Wikipedia


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:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrQT4WkbNE[/youtube]

In my teen to early 20's I loved the lion sleeps tonight by the Tokens....heard it the other day on an oldie station and then I remembered Obama in the white house and I swear it sounded like they were singing...."Ream-away....ream-away......"