Claude Demetrius
Encyclopedia
Claude Demetrius was an African American
songwriter.
Born in Bath, Maine
, by his early twenties he was in New York City
writing music for and/or with the likes of Louis Armstrong
, Jimmy Witherspoon
and B.B. King. Demetrius wrote the 1945 musical comedy short film Open the Door, Richard. During the 1940s, he was very closely associated with Louis Jordan
. He wrote songs with Jordan that included material for the 1946 Black
musical film
Beware in which Jordan had the starring role. Some of Demetrius' best known compositions from that era were co-written with Jordan's wife, Fleecie Moore, including the song "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)
."
For two decades, Claude Demetrius made a reasonably good living but in 1956 his income would change dramatically after he began writing for Gladys Music, Inc.. Newly formed by Jean
and Julian Aberbach
, the company owned the exclusive publishing rights to the music of Elvis Presley
. Working for Gladys Music, Demetrius co-wrote a song called "I Was The One" that was the B-side to Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel." In 1957 he composed "Mean Woman Blues
" for Presley's 1957 motion picture soundtrack
, Loving You
that was released on the record album of the same name as well as on Side 2 of a four-song EP
record. Demetrius topped off a very successful year when he co-wrote with Aaron Schroeder
the song "Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" which appeared on the 1957 Elvis' Christmas Album
.
In 1958, Demetrius scored his biggest success of all with his composition of "Hard Headed Woman
." The song became the first rock and roll
single to earn the RIAA designation, "Gold Record." Demetrius wrote it alone and "Dixieland Rock" with Fred Wise
for Presley's 1958 film King Creole
. Both songs were part of the record album but "Hard Headed Woman" was also released as a 45rpm single
that went to No. 1 on the Billboard music charts.
In 1963, "Mean Woman Blues
" was recorded again, this time by Roy Orbison
on a 45rpm single
that went to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100
music charts and was part of Orbison's 1964 album, More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
. The timeless rock song was also sung by him on the 1989 HBO acclaimed television special called Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
.
Claude Demetrius died in 1988 in New York City.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
songwriter.
Born in Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
, by his early twenties he was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
writing music for and/or with the likes of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon was an American jump blues singer.-Early life and career:James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during...
and B.B. King. Demetrius wrote the 1945 musical comedy short film Open the Door, Richard. During the 1940s, he was very closely associated with Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
Louis Thomas Jordan was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the...
. He wrote songs with Jordan that included material for the 1946 Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
Beware in which Jordan had the starring role. Some of Demetrius' best known compositions from that era were co-written with Jordan's wife, Fleecie Moore, including the song "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)
Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)
"Ain't That Just Like a Woman " is a 1946 song by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The song went to number one on the R&B Jukebox chart for two weeks and peaked at number seventeen on the pop chart...
."
For two decades, Claude Demetrius made a reasonably good living but in 1956 his income would change dramatically after he began writing for Gladys Music, Inc.. Newly formed by Jean
Jean Aberbach
Joachim "Jean" Aberbach was an Austrian-born American music publisher. With his brother Julian, he was responsible for establishing Hill and Range as one of the leading music publishing houses, responsible for songs recorded by Elvis Presley and many others.-Life and career:Aberbach was born in...
and Julian Aberbach
Julian Aberbach
Julian J. Aberbach was an Austrian-born music publisher, who lived and worked in both the United States and France...
, the company owned the exclusive publishing rights to the music of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Working for Gladys Music, Demetrius co-wrote a song called "I Was The One" that was the B-side to Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel." In 1957 he composed "Mean Woman Blues
Mean Woman Blues
"Mean Woman Blues" is a 12-bar blues song written by Claude Demetrius. It was recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1957 motion picture, Loving You. Presley also released the song on Side 2 of a four-song EP record...
" for Presley's 1957 motion picture soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
, Loving You
Loving You
Loving You is an American motion picture directed by Hal Kanter, released by Paramount Pictures on July 9, 1957. The film stars Elvis Presley, Lizabeth Scott and Wendell Corey...
that was released on the record album of the same name as well as on Side 2 of a four-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
record. Demetrius topped off a very successful year when he co-wrote with Aaron Schroeder
Aaron Schroeder
Aaron Schroeder was an American songwriter and music publisher.-Biography:Born Aaron Harold Schroder , he graduated from the school now known as the Fiorello H...
the song "Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" which appeared on the 1957 Elvis' Christmas Album
Elvis' Christmas Album
Elvis' Christmas Album is the fourth album by Elvis Presley on RCA Victor Records, LOC 1035, a deluxe limited edition, released in October 1957, and recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It has been reissued in numerous different formats since its first release...
.
In 1958, Demetrius scored his biggest success of all with his composition of "Hard Headed Woman
Hard Headed Woman
"Hard Headed Woman" is a #1 rock and roll song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company in 1958. It is an American 12-bar blues written by African American songwriter Claude Demetrius...
." The song became the first rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
single to earn the RIAA designation, "Gold Record." Demetrius wrote it alone and "Dixieland Rock" with Fred Wise
Fred Wise (lyricist)
Fred Wise was the co-writer of the lyrics to the 1948 song "'A' — You're Adorable" with Buddy Kaye. He subsequently wrote many of the songs sung by Elvis Presley in his movies....
for Presley's 1958 film King Creole
King Creole
King Creole is a 1958 American film directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Hal B. Wallis. The story was adapted from the Harold Robbins novel A Stone for Danny Fisher and featured Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau. The film tells the story of a nineteen-year-old who gets mixed...
. Both songs were part of the record album but "Hard Headed Woman" was also released as a 45rpm single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
that went to No. 1 on the Billboard music charts.
In 1963, "Mean Woman Blues
Mean Woman Blues
"Mean Woman Blues" is a 12-bar blues song written by Claude Demetrius. It was recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1957 motion picture, Loving You. Presley also released the song on Side 2 of a four-song EP record...
" was recorded again, this time by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
on a 45rpm single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
that went to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
music charts and was part of Orbison's 1964 album, More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits
More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits is a Roy Orbison album from Monument Records recorded at their studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee and released in 1964.-Track listing:Side One#"It's Over" #"Blue Bayou"...
. The timeless rock song was also sung by him on the 1989 HBO acclaimed television special called Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night is a 1988 Cinemax television special originally broadcast on January 3, 1988 starring Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Roy Orbison. The special was filmed entirely in black and white...
.
Claude Demetrius died in 1988 in New York City.