作曲Allen Toussaint去世

流行歌唱界有影響力的歌手、製作人、作曲、編曲 Allen Toussaint  11月9日於西班牙病逝（77歲），他寫過很多首令人懷念的歌曲，如："Mother-In-Law" (#1-1961 由Ernie K-Doe演唱—他也是製作人)，"Southern Nights" (#1-1977由Glen Campbell演唱)，"Working In The Coal Mine" (#8-1966 由Lee Dorsey演唱)， "Java" (#4-1964由 Al Hirt吹奏)，"Whipped Cream" (#68 1965 由Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass樂團錄製，名次不高但因電視約會節目用它當主題曲而出名）。

Allen Toussaint也替很多藝人單任製作人，如：B.J. Thomas， Dr. John,，the Meters 還有Labelle  1975 年的冠軍曲"Lady Marmalade" 。他也參與Paul McCartney and Wings  1975年專輯唱片 "Venus And Mars"錄音工作。

Allen Toussaint於2011年被推薦進入作曲家名人堂及藍調名人堂，2009年則進入路易斯安那音樂名人堂，更早於1998年就進入搖滾樂名人堂。

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass 的Whipped Cream & Other Delights是1965年的專輯排行榜冠軍唱片，一共賣了六百萬張，唱片封面請當時已懷孕三個月的名模Dolores Erickson穿綢緞禮服灑刮鬍膏拍攝，其中的A Taste of Honey曾獲得Grammy年度單曲唱片獎，是一張值得珍藏的經典專輯唱片。
 在Billboard雜誌本週新公佈的Greatest of All Time/Billboard 200 Albums中，這一張專輯獲得第13名，比15名 Fleetwood Mac的Rumours名次還高。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u68NMAI_Js

Johnny Mathis豪宅焚毀

Johnny Mathis好萊塢的豪宅十一月二日毀於一場大火，消防隊員救火時保存了一些紀念品，但是Johnny說家裡什麼都沒了，這房子他已買了56年，失火時Johnny Mathis在克里夫蘭開演唱會，他表示他很好，也沒人受傷，他有信心很快恢復正常。

Johnny Mathis是歷年暢銷歌星排行榜第64名的名歌星，1935年於德州Gilmer出生，後來在舊金山長大，13歲時就開始學歌劇，後來雖然拿到舊金山州立大學田徑獎學金，還曾入選奧林匹克世運會選拔賽，但最終他選擇了歌唱當職業。

1956年Johnny Mathis在Columbia唱片公司George Avakian的引薦之下前往紐約踏入歌壇，當時被視為一位爵士歌手，他在公司的藝人與節目指導，也是知名樂團領隊Mitch Miller的安排下，專門演唱流行歌謠，後來成績斐然，在搖滾樂紀元裡他曾經有超過七十張唱片進過Billboard雜誌專輯唱片排行榜。

Johnny Mathis的名曲很多，1978年的冠軍曲，與Deniece Williams合唱的Too Much， Too Little ，Too Late是他排行榜上較晚期的一首暢銷曲。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhwwZLrSNdk

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

-Artists: Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams from "Night Songs":

-Warner Special Products OPCD 4557

-peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1978

-Words and Music by Nat Kipner and John McIntyre Vallins

JOHNNY:

Guess it's over, call it a day

Sorry that it had to end this way

No reason to pretend

We knew it had to end some day, this way

DENIECE:

Yes, it's over, the kids are gone

What's the use of tryin' to hang on?

Somewhere we lost the key

So little left for you and me and it's clear to see

BOTH: Too much, too little, too late to lie again with you

Too much, too little, too late to try again with you

Wee in the middle of ending something that we knew

JOHNNY: It's over

DENIECE: Oh, it was over

BOTH: Too much, too little, too late to ever try again

Too much, too little, too late, let's end it being friends

Too much, too little, too late, we knew it had to end

DENIECE; Ah, it's over

JOHNNY: It's over

DENIECE:

Yes, it's over, the chips are down (whoa)

Nearly all our bridges tumbled down

JOHNNY:

Whatever chance we try, let's face it widened-eye

It's over (It's over)

It's over < DENIECE shrieks>

BOTH: Too much, too little, too late to ever try again

Too much, too little, too late, let's end it being friends

Too much, too little, too late, we knew it had to end

JOHNNY: And it's over

DENIECE: And it's over

JOHNNY: And it's over

FADE

BOTH: Too much, too little, too late to ever try again

Too much, too little, too late, let's end it being friends

Michael Jackson又得冠軍

  

富比士雜誌公布年度已故藝人收入排行榜，Michael Jackson以去年一億1500萬美元收入，輕易地超過貓王Elvis Presley的五千五百萬奪得冠軍，漫畫『花生』的作者Charles Schultz以四千萬美元得到第三名，接著是雷鬼音樂歌手Bob Marley的二千一百萬，影后 Elizabeth Taylor則有二千萬，其他在排行榜前十五名的知名藝人還有前批頭合唱團的John Lennon，豔星 Marilyn Monroe，性格男演員James Dean與電視節目主持人Joan Rivers。

Michael Jackson以專輯唱片Thriller當中的多首暢銷單曲，搭配主打歌Thriller的MV轉型成功，成為流行歌壇巨星，不過老歌迷特別懷念他童年的可愛模樣，像1972年的冠軍曲，電影「金鼠王」的插曲Ben，就是一首百聽不厭的好歌。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_8yT0XkyU

Ben

Michael Jackson

Ben, the two of us need look no more

We both found what we were looking for

With a friend to call my own

I'll never be alone

And you, my friend will see

You've got a friend in me

(You've got a friend in me)

Ben, you're always running here and there

(Here and there)

You feel you're not wanted anywhere (anywhere)

If you ever look behind

And don't like what you find

There's something you should know

You've got a place to go

(You've got a place to go)

I used to say "I" and "me"

Now it's "us", now it's "we"

(I used to say "I" and "me"

Now it's "us", now it's "we")

Ben, most people would turn you away

(Turn you away)

I don't listen to a word they say

(A word they say)

They don't see you as I do

I wish they would try to

I'm sure they'd think again

If they had a friend like Ben

(A friend)

Like Ben

(Like Ben)

Like Ben

Three Dog Night的娃娃歌

Three Dog Night合唱團主唱歌手之一的Cory Wells十月20日於紐約去世（74 歲）。

Cory Wells本名Emil Lewandowski，出生於紐約州Buffalo，在空軍服役的時候曾組過一個樂隊，退伍後到美西發展，他的樂團the Enemys在俱樂部唱了一段時間，後來在好萊塢的Whisky a Go-Go-他遇到歌手兼製作人Danny Hutton，俩人應邀參加Sonny and Cher的巡迴演唱。

1968年他倆加上Chuck Negron組了一個合唱團Redwood，Beach Boys的老大Brian Wilson製作了他們早期的作品，Redwood同時改名Three Dog Night，因為聽說澳洲土人天冷的時候會抱三條狗取暖。

Three Dog Night在1969 到1975年間有21首排行榜前四十名的暢銷曲，包括"Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" (#1-1970  Cory 主唱)， "Joy To The World" (#1-1971) 及"Black & White" (#1-1972)，其他由Cory 主唱的歌還有"Shambala" (#3-1973) 與 "Eli's Coming" (#10-1969)。

Three Dog Night合唱團因創意枯竭，於1976年宣告解散，但五年不到又重組過，Cory Wells持續演唱，直到上個月病倒為止。

Three Dog Night是1971年的冠軍合唱團，在歷年暢銷歌星與合唱團排行榜獲得第100名，老歌迷們一定忘不了他們那些動聽的名曲。

Three Dog Night在排行榜上名次最好的歌是1971年獲得六週冠軍的Joy To The World，這一首歌以開場白Jeremiah was a bullfrog出名，被很多人笑稱是一首騙小孩的娃娃歌。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf-d-Ka30EY

JOY TO THE WORLD

- written by Hoyt Axton

- lyrics as recorded by Three Dog Night (#1 for 6 weeks in 1971)

Jeremiah was a bullfrog

Was a good friend of mine

I never understood a single word he said

But I helped him a-drink his wine

And he always had some mighty fine wine

Singin'...

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls now

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

If I were the king of the world

Tell you what I'd do

I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war

Make sweet love to you

Sing it now...

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

------ electric piano ------

You know I love the ladies

Love to have my fun

I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider

A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun

I said a straight shootin' son-of-a-gun

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

     Joy to the world

     All the boys and girls

     Joy to the world

     Joy to you and me

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls now

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

   I wanna tell you

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

   Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

   Joy to you and me

(fading)

   Joy to the world

   All the boys and girls

Billy Joe Royal去世

Billy Joe Royal十月16日睡夢中在北卡羅萊納州家中去世 （73歲）。

Billy Joe Royal出生於喬治亞州Valdosta，青少年時期他在叔叔的廣播節目和喬治亞州的活動中就小有名氣，有一次他在參加表演活動時被安排和作曲Joe South住同一房間，Joe South要他錄一個Joe的作品"Down In The Boondocks"的樣帶，結果因為效果不錯而被Columbia唱片公司簽走，他正式錄了這首歌而且獲得排行榜第九名 (#9-1965)。

Billy Joe Royal接著推出的"I Knew You When" (#14-1965)"Hush" (#52-1967)成績還可以，但是"Cherry Hill Park" (#15-1969)是給歌迷們印象較深的歌，在他聲勢走下坡之前他還推出很多歌，但欲振乏力。

後來他轉而往鄉村歌唱界發展，"Tell It Like It Is" 和"Till I Can't Take It Anymore"也都得過鄉村歌曲排行榜第二名，1985-1992年他一共有15首歌進過 鄉村歌曲排行榜。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEWCNCKxyk

CHERRY HILL PARK

Billy Joe Royal

Mary Hill used to hang out in Cherry Hill Park

The game she played lasted all day till way after dark

All the girls they criticized her

But all the guys just idolized her

Cause Mary Hill was such a thrill after dark

In Cherry Hill Park

Mary Hill used to love to ride the merry-go-round

All the guys got eager eyes watchin Mary go round

In the daytime Mary Hill was a teaser

Come the night she was such a pleaser

Oh Mary Hill was such a thrill after dark

In Cherry Hill Park

Mary Hill sure was smart down in Cherry Hill Park

Playing games with everyone till way after dark

In Cherry Hill Park, Cherry Hill Park

Then one day, Mary Hill, she married away

A man with some money said come on honey

And she said okay

She went away to play a one man game

And since that day it ain't been the same

Cause Mary Hill was such a thrill after dark

Yeah in Cherry Hill Park

Now Mary Hill sure was smart down in Cherry Hill Park

Playing games with everyone till way after dark

In Cherry Hill Park (Cherry Hill Park)

Stevie Wonder離婚

黑人盲歌星Stevie Wonder和第二任老婆十月五日終於離婚，經過14年的婚姻，Stevie被判定每個月要給前妻Kai Millard 生的二個小孩撫養費 25,000美元，Stevie 與Kai從2009就已分居。

Stevie Wonder是歷年暢銷歌星排行榜第六名的巨星，1950年出生於密西根州Saginaw，天生即雙眼失明，1963年13歲時即以Fingertips-pt1獲三周排行榜冠軍而成名，他能作曲、演唱、玩多種樂器，在歌壇四十多年有很多膾炙人口的暢銷曲，1980年代中期曾在當年還沒燒毀的台北中華體育館開過演唱會。

Stevie Wonder於 1989年進搖滾樂名人堂，1996年得Grammy終身成就獎，2004年得Billboard雜誌世紀歌星獎。

Stevie Wonder曾於1970年和女歌手 Syreeta Wright結婚，但1972年即分手， Syreeta曾和Billy Preston合唱一首情歌With You I'm Born Again，1979年獲得過第四名，但不幸他已於2004年因癌症去世 （58歲）。

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmM8aQar4Lg

With You I'm Born Again

Billy Preston & Syreeta

Written by David Shire and Carol Connors

Come bring me your softness

Comfort me through all this madness

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Come give me your sweetness

Now there's you, there is no weakness

Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again

I was half, not whole

In step with none

Reaching through this world

In need of one

Come show me your kindness

In your arms I know I'll find this

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Lying safe with you I'm born again

Come bring me your softness

Comfort me through all this madness

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Come give me your sweetness

Now there's you, there is no weakness

Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

I was half, not whole

In step with none

Reaching through this world

In need of one

Come show me your kindness

In your arms I know I'll find this

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Lying safe with you I'm born again

「沼澤地流行歌」與Frankie Ford

  外號紐奧良發電機的「沼澤地流行歌」歌手Frankie Ford，九月28日在長期生病後去世 （76歲）。Frankie Ford出生於路易斯安那州Gretna，靠近紐奧良，一輩子都在那裏過生活，童年時因參加Ted Mac的業餘劇場廣播電台節目出名，而獲得當地很多節目的邀請，中學時他組了一個合唱團，他是主唱兼鋼琴手，受到Ace唱片公司老闆的注意而和他簽約，他的第一張單曲"Cheatin' Woman"在當地頗受歡迎，但是接著推出的"Sea Cruise"（原來只是另一首歌"Roberta"的反面陪榜歌），卻獲得1959年底全美排行榜第14名，使他一舉成名。

接著他在Ace唱片公司加上在Imperial唱片公司推出的四首歌，最高只獲得第72名，然後又去當兵，使他的演唱生涯受到很大的影響。

他的故事還沒講完，因為他在老歌圈地位受到的肯定，1978年的電影"American Hot Wax"當中有它的出現，2010年他獲選進入路易斯安那州音樂名人 堂the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame。

swamp pop「沼澤地流行歌」是流行音樂的一個分支，主要流行於易斯安那州南部。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xelUdXAvDVU

Sea Cruise

Words and Music by ***Huey P. Smith and Frankie Ford***

Old man rhythm is in my shoes

No use tittin� and aingin� the blues

So be my guest, you got nothin� to lose

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Feel like jumpin� baby won ya join me please

I don like beggin� but I on bended knee

I got to get tockin get my hat off the rack

I got to boogie woogie like a knife in the back

So be my guest, you got nothin� to lose

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

I got to get tovin� baby I ain lyin�

My heart is beatin� rhythm and it right on time

So be my guest, you got nothin� to lose

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Feel like jumpin� baby won ya join me please

I don like beggin� but I on bended knee

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Oo-ee, oo-ee baby

Won ya let me take you on a sea cruise?