Don Robertson (songwriter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Robertson
Robertson in 1966
Background information
Birth name	Donald Irwin Robertson
Born	(1922-12-05)December 5, 1922 Beijing, China
Died	March 16, 2015(2015-03-16) (aged 92) California, United States
Genres	Country music, pop music
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, musician
Instruments	Piano
Labels	Capitol Records

Donald Irwin Robertson (born December 5, 1922 – died March 16, 2015) was a talented American songwriter and pianist. He was famous for writing songs in both country and pop music styles.

Robertson was so good at writing songs that he was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. He also had his own hit song called "The Happy Whistler" in 1956. This song reached the Top 10 in the United States and the UK. It sold over one million copies, earning a special "gold disc" award!

He wrote many popular songs for other musicians. One of the most famous singers he wrote for was Elvis Presley. Elvis recorded more than a dozen of Robertson's songs. Five of these songs were even featured in Elvis's movies! Robertson also created a special piano playing style called the "slip note." This style became very famous thanks to another pianist named Floyd Cramer. Don Robertson lived in California for many years before he passed away in 2015.

Famous Songs Written by Don Robertson

Don Robertson wrote or helped write many well-known songs. Here are some of his most famous works:

• "Anything That's Part of You" (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" (with Doris Clement and John Crutchfield)
• "Born to Be with You" (sung by The Chordettes)
• "Hummingbird" (sung by Les Paul and Mary Ford and Frankie Laine)
• "I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye" (sung by Jerry Lee Lewis, Jean Shepard, Hawkshaw Hawkins)
• "I Don't Hurt Anymore" (with Walter E. Rollins), (sung by Hank Snow, Jerry Lee Lewis)
• "I Let Her Go" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Frankie Laine)
• "I Love You More and More Every Day" (sung by Al Martino)
• "I Met Her Today" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "I'm Counting On You" (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "I Really Don't Want to Know" (with Howard Barnes), (sung by Les Paul and Mary Ford, Tommy Edwards, and Elvis Presley)
• "Love Me Tonight" (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Hank Snow)
• "No More" (based on "La Paloma", with Hal Blair, (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "Not One Minute More" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Della Reese)
• "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Hank Locklin)
• "Ringo" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Lorne Greene)
• "Stand In" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Don Robertson himself and Jim Reeves)
• "Starting Today" (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "There's Always Me" (sung by Elvis Presley and Jim Reeves)
• "They Remind Me Too Much of You" (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "What Now, What Next, Where To" (with Hal Blair), (sung by Elvis Presley)
• "You're Free to Go" (with Lou Herscher) (sung by Carl Smith)

His Legacy and Disney Connection

Don Robertson's music lives on in many ways. He even played the piano for a famous attraction at Disney theme parks! His instrumental song "Pianjo" is played by an audio-animatronic bear named Gomer. You can hear it as the opening song in the "Country Bear Jamboree" show.