Don_Robertson_(songwriter)

Don Robertson (songwriter)

Don Robertson (songwriter)

American songwriter and pianist (1922–2015)


Donald Irwin Robertson (December 5, 1922 – March 16, 2015) was an American songwriter and pianist, mostly in the 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]

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Although contracted to Capitol at the time of his biggest selling hit single, Robertson subsequently signed a recording contract with RCA Victor. He composed or co-composed with Hal Blair (né Harold Keller Brown; 1915–2001), many hits for other musicians, including Elvis Presley, who recorded more than a dozen of Robertson's songs, five of which appeared in Presley's numerous films.[2] He is also the inventor of the "slip note" piano style made famous by Floyd Cramer. Having resided in Lake Sherwood, California for 55 years, he died in 2015.[3]

Best known published songs

Legacy

Notably, Robertson lent his piano-playing skills to the Disney theme park attraction Country Bear Jamboree. His instrumental song "Pianjo" is played by the audio-animatronic bear, Gomer as the attraction’s opening number.


References

  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 465. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.

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