Articles by John Twang

Pianist, composer, producer, conductor and arranger Stephan Moccio at the keyboard playing "A New Day Has Come" (Stephan Moccio - Aldo Nova). Ontario, Canada native Stephan also found success co-writing "Wrecking Ball" and collaborated with acts that included James Blunt, Sarah Brightman, Fergie, Josh Grobin, Avril Lavigne, Seal and The Weekend. Incidentally Stephan sings backing vocals on the hit. Celine Dion's 2002 album "A New Day Has Come" obviously includes the lead single that reached…

Grammy winner Rodney Crowell wrote "Making Memories Of Us", first recorded by Tracy Byrd for his 2003 LP "The Truth About Men". The track was not issued as a single. A year later the composer joined Vince Gill to alternate on lead vocals as members of country super-group The Notorious Cherry Bombs (Eddie Bayers, Richard Bennett, Tony Brown, Rodney Crowell, Hank DeVito, Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Michael Rhodes) to record "Memories Of Us" on their self-titled debut album. After releasing two…

"The Magic Song" (Al Hoffman - Mack David - Jerry Livingston" was introduced in the Academy Award nominated 1950 Walt Disney animated classic "Cinderella" where it's known as "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo". Verna Felton performed the song in the motion picture as the Fairy Godmother. Verna was the voice for Wilma Flintstone's mother in the Hanna-Barbera television hit "The Flintstones". Her husband, Lee Millar was the voice of Disney's Pluto. Although it was recorded by many of the top recording star…

Adapted from Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" (Harry Carroll - Joseph McCarthy) was introduced in the 1918 Broadway production of "Oh, Look!". That year it was successful as a recording by Charles W. Harrison. Perry Como and The Satisfyers released "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" when it was featured in the 1945 Betty Grable, June Haver, John Payne movie "The Dolly Sisters". The sisters, Rosie and Jenny Dolly (Deutch), were identical twins and had sung the song in t…

Faces (lead vocals Ronnie Wood, Kenny Jones, Ian McLagan and Ronnie Lane) issued the single "Ooh La La" (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) from the 1973 LP of the same name. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane both tried singing lead but didn't were accepted. This, without the participation of Rod Stewart, was the last track on the group's final studio album. "Ooh La La" was the lead single from the Rod Stewart 1998 album "When We Were The New Boys". This was the first Rod Stewart LP not issued on vinyl. T…

The underestimated Alex Call and The Real Life sing "Perfect World" in a Help-A-Thon for the homeless concert at a 1989 San Francisco benefit concert. Alex who co-wrote the rock classic "867-5309/Jenny" and he was a member of the group Clover with Hey Lewis. Huey Lewis (Cregg) and The News (Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes and Sean Hopper) sing the single edit to "Perfect World" which peaked at number three on Billboard's top ten, number two Adult Contemporary in 1988.…

The first single released by Barry Manilow (Pincus) was "Amy" by Featherbed featuring Barry and it was written by the same two composers of "Daybreak" (Barry Manilow - Adrienne Anderson). The song "Daybreak" first appeared on the 1976 studio album "This One's For You". Adrienne co-wrote "Could It Be Magic" and Dionne Warwick's "Deja Vu" with Isaac Hayes. The hit version of "Daybreak" featured backing trio Lady Flash (Reparata aka Lorraine Mazzola, Debra Byrd and Monica Page) on the 1977 quad…

Sir Elton John (Reginald Dwight) and Bernie Taupin wrote "Snookeroo" especially for Ringo Starr. The title refers to the billiards game. Elton said "Bernie wrote really simple lyrics, very Ringo type lyrics and I tried to write a simple sort of melody to it". Ringo Starr's (Richard Starkey) "Snookeroo" was recorded for the 1974 LP "Goodnight Vienna". Elton John plays piano and does the countdown. The single reached number three on Billboard with the popularity of "No No Song" on the flip sid…

It's been mentioned that the following song referred to drug addiction. Victor Young and Sam M. Lewis wrote "Street Of Dreams" in 1932. The next year Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians took the tune to number five. Guy's brother Carmen was the featured vocalist. Despite versions by Bing Crosby and Ben Selvin issued at approximately the same time, this was the hit. The track is edited to include the vocals. Tommy Dorsey revived "Street Of Dreams" in 1942 with Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipe…

Recorded April 27, 2011 at Belmont University's Massey Performing Arts Center here is compose4r Craig Wiseman singing "A Baby Changes Everything". Craig hosted The Stars of Second Harvest Show at the Ryman, with all proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee. This event has raised $1,000,000 for the food bank. Craig co-authored a New York Times Best seller, "Live Like You Were Dying", in 2004. The Faith Hill 2008 Christmas album "Joy To The World" is filled with Christmas s…

The 1942 film musical "Orchestra Wives" introduced "Serenade In Blue" (Harry Warren - Mack Gordon) by Glenn Miller's Orchestra and the voice of Pat Friday (Helen Freiday). Pat was dubbing for actress Lynn Bari (Margaret Fisher). Glenn starred in the picture along with George Montgomery, Cesar Romero and Ann Rutherford. Brief appearances were made by relative unknowns Dale Evans, Jackie Gleason and Harry Morgan. "Serenade In Blue" was released by The Glenn Miller Orchestra with vocalist Ray E…

Here is the 1971 demo for Elton John's (Reginald Dwight) "Levon" (Elton John - Bernie Taupin). The song was inspired by Levon Helm, drummer and singer with The Band. The group was Elton's favourite at the time. Later that thought was negated by Bernie Taupin. "Levon" appeared on the Elton John album "Madman Across The Water" and peaked on Billboard at number twenty-four while reaching into the Canadian top ten.

From the album "Philadelphia To Love Adventure: The Demos" this is the demo for Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom". Elton requested that Bernie Taupin compose lyrics for a song about Billie Jean King, the founder of the Philadelphia Freedom's World Team Tennis Team. Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" was issued as a single in 1975 and topped Billboard's charts. The record sleeve contains "With love to B.J.K. and the music of Philadelphia".

Belinda Carlisle first recorded "Waiting For A Star To Fall" (George Merrill- Shannon Rubicam). It's more than evident by her performance that Belinda didn't want the song on her 1977 LP "Heaven On Earth" and recorded it only after her label's insistence. Boy Meets Girl (lead vocalist Shannon Rubicam, keyboardist and vocalist George Merrill) and "Waiting For A Star To Fall" reached number five on the Top One Hundred and topped the Adult Contemporary chart in 1988. This is from the album "Ree…

Pete (Pietro) Rugolo and His Orchestra perform "Theme From Dr. Kildare" (Jerry Goldsmith - Pete Rugolo - Hal Winn). Pete Rugolo scored other television series including The Fugitive, Leave It To Beaver, Fantasy Island, Checkmate, The Untouchables, The Virginian, Sanford And Son and Lost In Space. Jerry Goldsmith won several Oscars and Emmy Awards. Hal Winn wrote the Johnny Crawford hits "Cindy's Birthday" and "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow". Richard Chamberlain starred as Dr. Kildare and sang "The…

In 1939 "The Empress of the Blues", Bessie Smith recorded "Don't Cry Baby" (Saul Bernie - James P. Johnson - Stella Unger). Bessie Smith was killed as the result of a 1937 traffic accident. Her Pennsylvania grave remained unmarked until a tombstone was donated in 1970 by Janis Joplin and Bessie's one time housekeeper Juanita Green. Erskine Hawkins covered "Don't Cry Baby" in 1943 with vocalist Jimmy Mitchell and topped, what at the time was called, The Harlem Hit Parade while peaking at numb…

Rob Crosby (Hoar) co-wrote "She's More" (Rob Crosby - Liz Hengber). Rob has written for Lady Antebellum, Blackhawk, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Greenwood, Restless Heart, Martina McBride, Carl Perkins and Paul Simon. Andy Griggs hit with "She's More" from his first and gold album "You Won't Ever Be Lonely". Released in 2000 the single peaked at number two Country and number thirty-seven on the Billboard Top One Hundred.

Grammy Award Winning songwriter and producer Mark Hudson assisted by Nashville award winning songwriter Gary Burr perform "Livin' On The Edge" (Steven Tyler - Joe Perry - Mark Hudson) on a local NYC television show in May of 2018. Mark Hudson was a member of The Hudson Brothers and is Kate Hudson's uncle. The lead single from the Aerosmith (Steven Tyler lead vocals, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford) 1993 LP "Get A Grip" number one album was "Livin' On The Edge". The Gra…