Broadway and Pop Composer George David Weiss Dies at 89

The New York Times reports that songwriter George David Weiss died in his home in Oldwick, New Jersey this past Monday. Weiss was 89 years old and, according to his wife Claire, died of natural causes.

The songwriter, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, is known for his work with Broadway musicals as well as his contribution to popular music. Weiss collaborated with Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore on the Elvis Presley hit "Can't Help Falling in Love," a song which was released in 1961 as part of the soundtrack for Presley's film "Blue Hawaii." Also in 1961, Weiss joined the same group of writers to work on the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for the Tokens.

In 1967, Weiss joined Bob Thiele to work on "What a Wonderful World," which later became a Louis Armstrong hit. Weiss is also credited for working on songs like "Lullaby of Birdland," "Surrender," "Confess," and "Wheel of Fortune."

Weiss' work on Broadway includes the musical Mr. Wonderful, which he worked on with Jerry Bock and Larry Holofcener. Weiss joined Robert Goldman and Glenn Paxton to write the music and lyrics to First Impressions in 1959, and in 1968 Weiss worked with Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore on the music and lyrics for Maggie Flynn.

Weiss was also president of the Songwriters Guild of America from 1982 to 2000. He is survived by his wife and two of their sons, as well as his sister, eight grandchildren, and two children from previous marriages.

Click here for the full article from The New York Times.