The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #23813 Message #3782341
Posted By: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
30-Mar-16 - 07:00 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Lion Sleeps Tonight
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lion Sleeps Tonight
One name 'strangely' missing from the Wiki:
Jim Dixon (23 Jan 02 - 01:44 PM)
"Adapted in 1951 by Paul Campbell with English words by Roy Ilene and recorded by The Weavers as 'Wimoweh'.
Richard Wright (24 Feb 03 - 10:57 PM)
"Peter Seeger is interviewed and says he got the song from Linda's record via a Decca rep--I think it was Lomax."
Roy Ilene, aka Milt Gabler (1911-2001,) the guy who founded the Commodore label and stuck "Strange Fruit" in everybody's ear. That got him an A&R slot at Decca and eventually the Coral sub-label. (& "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" & Bill Haley & Rock & Roll &c &c.)
fwiw: Also a witness in the "Rum & Coca-Cola" calypso trials and had troubles with "Jump in the Line (Shake Señora)" but the lawyers lost/settled out of court on those.
And then there was… "Danke Schoen" ...Mad genius for "memorable."