|
Post by Lydia Purple on Dec 19, 2013 18:39:53 GMT -8
The Tokens topped the US chart for the first of three weeks, on December 18, with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". The song, which was originally written as "Mbube" by South African Solomon Linda, was recorded by Miriam Makeba and then adapted by Pete Seeger and recorded by him and The Weavers as "Wimoweh" - he couldn't quite decipher the word "Mbube"
It was part of The Tokens reperatoire when they auditioned for RCA Records earlier that year and so impressed with it were producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Cratore, that they re-wrote it as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". The song was also a hit for Ronert John in 1972 when it peaked at no.3 on the US chart.
Solomon Linda died penniless and unrecognized.
(Source: The History of Rock Day by Day)
|
|