Pop Music
The song “Moon River” isn’t doo wop, of course, but it was a popular song of the era in the Top 20 on the charts. This song was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song , where it was featured in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and performed by Audrey Hepburn. The song also won Mancini the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Since its original performance, many artists have covered the song. Jerry Butler’s beautiful version is full of feeling, and his single went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #14 on the R&B Chart.
Butler was the lead singer of the group The Impressions. Butler met music legend Curtis Mayfield met while singing in the same church choir in Chicago. They joined an R&B, doo wop group called “The Roosters” in the 1950s. Besides Butler and Mayfield, the group included Sam Gooden, and both Richard and Arthur Brooks were members. They became Jerry Butler & The Impressions. Butler left the group soon after their 1958 hit “For Your Precisious Love” and went on to a successful solo career.
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[…] For another song by The Impressions: “It’s All Right.” For a song by Jerry Butler as a solo artist: “Moon River.” […]