R
Ruffian
Guest
Just posted this to mainsite.. Attention to last paragraph.
Hal Shaper, songwriter, was born on July 18, 1931. He died on January 8, 2004, aged 72.
IN A career of almost half a century, Hal Shaper wrote songs that were covered by most of the biggest names in the business. He wrote more than 650, and those who recorded them included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield.
His first major recognition came with an Ivor Novello Award in 1959. But it was when Matt Monroe recorded his Softly As I Leave You — an Italian melody to which Shaper added English lyrics — that his career took off internationally. The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Shirley Bassey and several hundred others.
Shaper used the early royalty cheques from this to start his own publishing company, Sparta Music, to which he signed other songwriters. They included a number of Jamaican artists and he played an important part in the early success of reggae music, co-writing The Israelites with Desmond Dekker, who took the song to No 1 in the British charts in 1969. He later helped to write UB40’s 1990 hit Kingston Town.
Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie Sioux and Morrissey, and the lyrics for Elaine Paige’s Piaf album. He also wrote and staged La Bohème Noir, a version of Puccini’s opera set in Soweto during the 1976 uprising.
Timi Yuro did the original 'Interlude'.. didn't he Grim?
Ruffian
Hal Shaper, songwriter, was born on July 18, 1931. He died on January 8, 2004, aged 72.
IN A career of almost half a century, Hal Shaper wrote songs that were covered by most of the biggest names in the business. He wrote more than 650, and those who recorded them included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Dusty Springfield.
His first major recognition came with an Ivor Novello Award in 1959. But it was when Matt Monroe recorded his Softly As I Leave You — an Italian melody to which Shaper added English lyrics — that his career took off internationally. The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Shirley Bassey and several hundred others.
Shaper used the early royalty cheques from this to start his own publishing company, Sparta Music, to which he signed other songwriters. They included a number of Jamaican artists and he played an important part in the early success of reggae music, co-writing The Israelites with Desmond Dekker, who took the song to No 1 in the British charts in 1969. He later helped to write UB40’s 1990 hit Kingston Town.
Returning in later life to South Africa, Shaper continued to write songs for the international market, including Interlude, a duet between Siouxsie Sioux and Morrissey, and the lyrics for Elaine Paige’s Piaf album. He also wrote and staged La Bohème Noir, a version of Puccini’s opera set in Soweto during the 1976 uprising.
Timi Yuro did the original 'Interlude'.. didn't he Grim?
Ruffian