George David Weiss

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: George David Weiss wrote a number of successful songs for Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald to name a few. He began writing jazz tunes such as the classic "Lullaby of Birdland" made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and later the Manhattan Transfer. George also co-wrote "Can't Help Falling in Love" which Elvis Presley recorded for his 1961 hit film Blue Hawaii. A few years later he teamed up with Bob Thiele to write one of the most enduring hits of Louis Armstrong's career, "What a Wonderful World." A fun little-known fact: in 1961, George, along with Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, added lyrics to a 1939 song written by Solomon Linda called "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which became a smash hit for the Tokens that same year.