Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 9, 1921 in New York City, NY

Death

:

August 23, 2010 in Oldwick, NJ

Genre

:

Vocal

 

George David Weiss was an American songwriter and composer who was born on April 9, 1921, in New York City. He was the son of a Jewish immigrant family from Hungary. Weiss grew up in a musical family, and his father was a violinist who played in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Weiss started playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Weiss attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition and orchestration. He also studied with the famous composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. After graduating from Juilliard, Weiss began his career as a songwriter and composer. Weiss wrote many popular songs during his career, including "What a Wonderful World," "Can't Help Falling in Love," and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." He also wrote music for films and television shows, including the theme song for the TV show "The Love Boat." One of Weiss's most famous compositions is "Lullaby of Birdland," which he wrote in 1952. The song was inspired by the famous jazz club Birdland in New York City, where Weiss often went to hear live music. "Lullaby of Birdland" became a jazz standard and has been recorded by many famous musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and George Shearing. Another famous composition by Weiss is "What a Wonderful World," which he co-wrote with Bob Thiele in 1967. The song was originally recorded by Louis Armstrong and became a hit around the world. "What a Wonderful World" has since become a beloved classic and has been covered by many other artists. Weiss also wrote music for films, including the theme song for the 1961 film "Town Without Pity." The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and became a hit around the world. Weiss also wrote music for the 1963 film "A New Kind of Love," which starred Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. In addition to his work as a songwriter and composer, Weiss was also a music publisher. He founded his own music publishing company, George David Weiss Music, in 1957. The company published many famous songs, including "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Can't Help Falling in Love." Weiss was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and received many other honors during his career. He continued to write music until his death on August 23, 2010, at the age of 89. In conclusion, George David Weiss was a talented songwriter and composer who wrote many famous songs during his career. He was inspired by jazz and classical music and wrote music for films, television shows, and popular music. Weiss's compositions, including "Lullaby of Birdland" and "What a Wonderful World," have become beloved classics and continue to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world. Weiss's legacy as a composer and music publisher continues to inspire new generations of musicians and songwriters.

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