The weight of a song rests heavily on the lyric's shoulders. In the throw-away world of popular culture where lyrics have taken a back seat to repetitive melodies, it is a great comfort to know that there still are lyricists whose refreshing and simple but meticulously considered words forge the symbiotic relationship between word and melody. Don Black is possibly the most important lyricist around. With more accolades than we have space to list and a career that has spanned over 40 years, Don has written some of the 20th Century's finest songs.
As you may be aware Sammy always performed Don's works in his shows so we were delighted when he agreed to an interview for the site earlier this month.
What was your path to songwriting?
I have always had a love for words. Always loved song. I began as a music publisher so I was surrounded by songwriters and I thought what a great way to make a living and found that eventually I could make a living out of it. I wrote some successful songs and I thought it was the perfect way to live, sitting in the park and scribbling away.
It took a long time until people like Matt Monro started covering some of my songs. He is really how I got started. I became Matt's manager as he was my greatest friend and we had a number of hits together. I managed him for over 20 years.
What comes first the music or the lyrics?
It doesn't matter. I usually have the music first. You get a better song that way. There's no question about that. A lyric writers gift is all about compression. Economy of words.
Are you protective over your songs?
In today's world you are just thankful for someone recording them. Everyone has their own interpretation, their different slant on it. It's nice when you get a surprise and you get a great version by somebody.
Have you written songs for specific performers?
I do all the time. Shirley Bassey for example has just asked me to write her a song and this week I am going to devote some time to that. This happens all the time.
When did you first meet Sammy?
One of my highlights of my life was sitting at The Palladium when he was playing there and he introduced me from the audience before singing 'If I Never Sing Another Song'. I went backstage to meet him. i had various dinners with him over the years. He used to throw these huge parties you know.
He loved Matt (Monro) so he came across to London to see him many times. He was the best. they don't come any better than Sammy.
The saddest thing about Sammy is when you look at Pop Idol today, the talent is just so embarrasing, if you compare any of these people. He was in the day and age of the entertainer. A fabulous all round entertainer who could do everything.
Every opportunity I saw Sammy. He was my idol. I was at his first night at The Pigalle when he first came to London. I have followed him all over the world. I suppose i was a kind of Sammy groupie, but then who wasn't.
Anthony Newley used to say "Any kid with a t-shirt and a microphone calls themselves a star". It is easy to get cynical though and it doesn't do you any good to keep saying 'they don't write them like that anymore'. I think you have to come to the conclusion that it is a different time now. That's what happens, you go back to the 30's and 40's and today it is a time of instant celebrity and fame. There is a different kind of emphasis. I suppose if i showed a Sammy Davis tape to a young record buyer they probably wouldn't understand it.
Quincy Jones said; Sammy was the best friend a song ever had'. I think that's right. No question about it. He was the greatest interpreter. There aren't enough superlatives to talk about him. He's the best and that's it.
What i loved about him was his spontenaiety. Every show was different. Everytime he sang a song it was different. Most people sing a song exactly the same every time. You never knew what was going to happen, which was part of the joy of going to see him. Suddenly in mid show he would say 'lets dance'. He was a miracle.
Don receiving his Oscar for best song 'Born Free'.
Don receiving his O.B.E from Queen Elizabeth in 1999.
