American songwriter and pianist (1922–2015)
Don Robertson
Robertson in 1966
Birth name Donald Irwin Robertson Born (1922-12-05 ) December 5, 1922Beijing , China Died March 16, 2015(2015-03-16) (aged 92) California, United States Genres Country music, pop music Occupation(s) Songwriter, musician Instrument(s) Piano Labels Capitol Records
Musical artist
Donald Irwin Robertson (December 5, 1922 – March 16, 2015) was an American songwriter and pianist, in country and popular music genres. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. As a performer, he hit the US Top 10 with "The Happy Whistler " in 1956 (peaking at No. 6). The track reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart the same year.[1] It sold more than one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc .[2]
After contracted to Capitol at the time of his biggest selling hit single , Robertson then signed a recording contract with RCA Victor . He composed and co-composed with Hal Blair (né Harold Keller Brown; 1915–2001, as well as many hits for other musicians, including Elvis Presley , who recorded five of which for Presley's films.[2] Having resided in Lake Sherwood, California for 55 years, he died in 2015.[3]
Best known published songs
"Anything That's Part of You " (performed by Elvis Presley )
"Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" (with Doris Clement and John Crutchfield)
"Born to Be with You " (performed by The Chordettes )
"Hummingbird " (performed by Les Paul and Mary Ford and Frankie Laine )
"I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye " (performed by Jerry Lee Lewis , Jean Shepard , Hawkshaw Hawkins )
"I Don't Hurt Anymore " (with Walter E. Rollins ), (performed by Hank Snow , Jerry Lee Lewis)
"I Let Her Go" (with Hal Blair), (performed by Frankie Laine)
"I Love You More and More Every Day " (performed by Al Martino )
"I Met Her Today " (with Hal Blair), (performed by Elvis Presley)
"I'm Counting On You" (performed by Elvis Presley)
"I Really Don't Want to Know " (with Howard Barnes ), (performed by Les Paul and Mary Ford , Tommy Edwards , and Elvis Presley)
"Love Me Tonight" (performed by Elvis Presley)
"Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)" (with Hal Blair), (performed by Hank Snow )
"No More " (based on the song "La Paloma ", co-written with Hal Blair, (performed by Elvis Presley)
"Not One Minute More " (with Hal Blair), (performed by Della Reese )
"Please Help Me, I'm Falling " (with Hal Blair), (performed by Hank Locklin )
"Ringo " (with Hal Blair), (performed by Lorne Greene )
"Stand In" (with Hal Blair), (performed by Don Robertson himself and Jim Reeves )
"Starting Today " (performed by Elvis Presley)
"There's Always Me " (performed by Elvis Presley and Jim Reeves)
"They Remind Me Too Much of You " (performed by Elvis Presley)
"What Now, What Next, Where To (with Hal Blair), (performed by Elvis Presley)
"You're Free to Go" (with Lou Herscher) (performed by Carl Smith )
Legacy
Robertson often performed on the piano at Disney theme park attraction Country Bear Jamboree . His instrumental composition "Pianjo" is played by the audio-animatronic bear as the attraction’s opening number.
References
External links
International National Artists