George David Weiss, co-writer of "Can't Help Falling in Love," which became a focal point of Elvis Presley's live shows, died last week of natural causes. He was 89.
A multi-instrumentalist and former bandleader, Mr. Weiss penned a number of memorable songs for music's biggest names. In addition to Presley recording, Louis Armstrong made a mark with "What a Wonderful World" and Frank Sinatra and Perry Como also recorded his compositions.
Perhaps his biggest contribution to the pop-rock songcraft was his impact reworking "Mbube," written by South African Solomon Linda in 1939 and recorded as "Wimoweh" in the early 1950s by The Weavers. In the early 1960s Weiss and two others wrote additional melody and penned new lyrics, transforming "Mbube" into "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," retaining the "wimoweh, wimoweh" refrain that helped the song become a hit for The Weavers and helping "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" become a hit for the Tokens in 1961.
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