Mort Shuman
b. 12 November 1936, Brooklyn, New York, USA, d. 2 November 1991, London, England. After studying music, Shuman began writing songs with blues singer, Doc Pomus, in 1958. Early in 1959 two of their songs were Top 40 hits: Plain Jane for Bobby Darin, and Fabian's I'm A Man. During the next six years, their catalogue was estimated at over 500 songs, in a mixture of styles for a variety of artists. They included Surrender, Viva Las Vegas, Little Sister and Kiss Me Quick ( Elvis Presley), Save The Last Dance For Me, Sweets For My Sweet and This Magic Moment (the Drifters), Teenager In Love ( Dion And The Belmonts), Can't Get Used To Losing You ( Andy Williams), Suspicion ( Terry Stafford); Seven Day Weekend ( Gary U.S. Bonds) and Spanish Lace ( Gene McDaniels). Around the time of the team's break-up in 1965, Shuman collaborated with several other writers. These included John McFarland for Billy J. Kramer's UK number 1, Little Children, Clive Westlake for Here I Go Again (the Hollies), ex-pop star, Kenny Lynch, for Sha-La-La-La-Lee ( Small Faces), Loves Just A Broken Heart ( Cilla Black), producer Jerry Ragavoy for Get It While You Can and Look At Granny Run, Run ( Howard Tate). Subsequently, Shuman moved to Paris, where he occasionally performed his own one-man show, and issued solo albums such as AMERIKA and IMAGINE…, as well as writing several songs for Johnny Hallyday. In 1968 Shuman translated the lyrics of French composer Jacques Brel; these were recorded by many artists including Dusty Springfield, Scott Walkerand Rod McKuen. Together with Eric Blau, he devised, adapted and wrote lyrics for the revue, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. Shuman also starred in the piece, which became a world-wide success. In October 1989, BUDGIE, a musical set in London's Soho district, with Schuman's music and Don Black's lyrics, opened in the West End. It starred former pop star, turned actor and entrepreneur, Adam Faith, and UK soap opera actress, Anita Dobson. The show closed after only three months, losing more than £1,000,000. Shuman wrote several other shows, including AMADEO, OR HOW TO GET RID OF IT, based on an Ionesco play, a Hong Kong portrayal of MADAME BUTTERFLY and a re-working of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's opera, AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHOGONNY. None has yet reached the commercial theatre. After undergoing a liver operation in the spring of 1991, he died in London.