Charles Singleton (songwriter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlie "Hoss" Singleton
|
|
|---|---|
August 9, 1985
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Fowler Singleton, Jr. |
| Born | September 17, 1913 Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Died | December 12, 1985 (aged 72) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter |
| Years active | 1950s – 1980s |
| Associated acts | Rose Marie McCoy Eddie Snyder |
Charles Fowler Singleton Jr. (born September 17, 1913 – died December 12, 1985), known as Charlie "Hoss" Singleton, was an American songwriter. He was famous for helping to write the words for popular songs like "Strangers in the Night" and "Moon Over Naples". This second song was later known as "Spanish Eyes".
Charlie Singleton wrote or helped write over a thousand songs! "Strangers in the Night" became a number-one hit for Frank Sinatra. The Elvis Presley version of "Spanish Eyes" sold more than three million copies.
Contents
The Life of Charlie Singleton
Early Life and School
Charles Singleton grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He went to several schools there. In 1935, he graduated from Stanton High School.
From a young age, Charlie loved singing and dancing. By the time he finished school, he was already a very skilled songwriter. He also put on many musical shows. One of his big shows was called April Frolics. It was performed at a nightclub in LaVilla, Jacksonville. Charlie kept working in Jacksonville through the 1940s.
Moving to New York and First Hits
In the early 1950s, Charlie Singleton moved to New York City. He showed his song lyrics to Decca Records, a big music company. They were impressed and signed him as a songwriter.
By 1954, he started working with another talented writer, Rose Marie McCoy. Together, they had their first big successes. They wrote R&B hits like "Well All Right" for Joe Turner. They also wrote "It Hurts Me to My Heart" for Faye Adams, which was a number 1 R&B hit. Another popular song was "Mambo Baby" for Ruth Brown.
Charlie and Rose Marie also wrote "Tryin' to Get to You". This song was famously recorded by Elvis Presley in 1955. However, a group called The Eagles first released it in 1954. In 1956, Charlie and Rose Marie even recorded a song together. They released it as "Charlie and Rosie" on RCA Victor.
Writing for Famous Singers
Charlie Singleton continued to write songs for many famous artists. These included Pat Boone, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and B. B. King. He also wrote for Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, and Andy Williams.
One of his biggest hits was "Don't Forbid Me" by Pat Boone. This song became a number one pop hit in 1956. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Charlie mostly wrote songs by himself. He also released his own album in 1962. It was called The Big Twist Hits and was credited to the Charlie "Hoss" Singleton Combo.
The Story Behind "Strangers in the Night"
The famous song "Strangers in the Night" started as an instrumental tune. It was called "Beddy Bye" and was created by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert. This tune was part of the movie A Man Could Get Killed.
When Frank Sinatra's producer, Jimmy Bowen, heard the tune, he wanted it to become a song with words. Kaempfert then asked Charlie Singleton and Eddie Snyder for help. Charlie Singleton wrote the lyrics. Eddie Snyder helped adapt the music. This is how "Strangers in the Night" was born.
Frank Sinatra's version of "Strangers in the Night" became a huge success. It reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1966. This song helped make Sinatra's career even bigger.
"Spanish Eyes" and Other Achievements
Charlie Singleton and Eddie Snyder also worked on another instrumental by Bert Kaempfert. This tune was called "Moon Over Naples". They turned it into the song "Spanish Eyes".
Many famous singers recorded "Spanish Eyes". These included Elvis Presley, Al Martino, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, and Willie Nelson.
Charlie Singleton also helped produce several platinum albums. These are albums that sell a very large number of copies. He passed away in 1985.
