Sid Wayne
Encyclopedia
Sid Wayne was an American
songwriter
, lyricist
and composer
, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Almost every Elvis Presley
film
contained one or more works written by Wayne and his partner Ben Weisman
.
His most known works are "See You In September
" written with Sherman Edwards, "It's Impossible", which is the English lyric of Armando Manzanero
's "Somos Novios", "Mangos" written with Dee Libbey, "Two Different Worlds
" and "Relax Max" written with Al Frisch, "I Need Your Love Tonight" written with Bix Reichner, and "Got a Feeling" for Herman's Hermits
. From 1960 to 1962, Wayne was the musical director of the CBS game show Video Village
, which debuted shortly after the scandal-tainted rigged quizzes of the 1950s left the air.
Born in Brooklyn
, New York
, Wayne, a self-taught musician had many successes in New York. In 1961, when Video Village
moved from New York to Los Angeles, he moved his young family to West Hollywood, California
to start the west coast phase of his career. There he teamed up with Weisman for work on the Elvis Presley films. As Elvis' film career tapered off, Wayne returned to his New York roots to have his biggest Grammy
nominated hit with the Perry Como
recording of "It's Impossible". This song, a love ballad for his wife Rhea, was commissioned as the English lyric to Armando Mansanero's "Somos Novios". The English version, "It's Impossible", was originally performed by Perry Como was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1972. This success was marred by the verdict of an American court, which ruled against Manzanero in a plagiarism case involving the Spanish lyric to "Somos Novios". This was a great blow for Manzanero, who had composed the song "Somos Novios" twenty years before and who was himself the victim of plagiarism by a Spanish composer. Today, it's acknowledged that Manzanero was indeed the composer of this song and that he was wrongfully accused.
In 1980 Wayne relocated to Dallas, Texas
, where he continued to write for commercial television and advertising with another songwriting partner, Stephen Arnold.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Almost every 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"....
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
contained one or more works written by Wayne and his partner Ben Weisman
Ben Weisman
Ben Weisman was an eccentric American composer significant for having written more songs recorded by Elvis Presley than any other songwriter in history. The "Mad Professor" as Weisman was nicknamed by Elvis, worked with the King from 1956 to 1971...
.
His most known works are "See You In September
See You In September
"See You in September" is a song written by Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards. The song was first recorded by the Pittsburgh vocal group, The Tempos. This first version peaked at #23 in the summer of 1959...
" written with Sherman Edwards, "It's Impossible", which is the English lyric of Armando Manzanero
Armando Manzanero
Armando Manzanero Canché is a Mexican musician and composer of Maya descent, widely considered the premier Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era and one of the most successful composers of Latin America....
's "Somos Novios", "Mangos" written with Dee Libbey, "Two Different Worlds
Two Different Worlds (1956 song)
"Two Different Worlds" is a popular song with music by Al Frisch and the lyrics by Sid Wayne, published in 1956.The biggest U.S. hit version was recorded by Don Rondo. It reached #11 on the Billboard chart and #12 on the Cash Box chart...
" and "Relax Max" written with Al Frisch, "I Need Your Love Tonight" written with Bix Reichner, and "Got a Feeling" for Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
. From 1960 to 1962, Wayne was the musical director of the CBS game show Video Village
Video Village
Video Village is an American television game show produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions which aired on the CBS network in daytime from July 11, 1960 to June 15, 1962 and in primetime from July 1 to September 16, 1960....
, which debuted shortly after the scandal-tainted rigged quizzes of the 1950s left the air.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
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...
, Wayne, a self-taught musician had many successes in New York. In 1961, when Video Village
Video Village
Video Village is an American television game show produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions which aired on the CBS network in daytime from July 11, 1960 to June 15, 1962 and in primetime from July 1 to September 16, 1960....
moved from New York to Los Angeles, he moved his young family to West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
to start the west coast phase of his career. There he teamed up with Weisman for work on the Elvis Presley films. As Elvis' film career tapered off, Wayne returned to his New York roots to have his biggest Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominated hit with the Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
recording of "It's Impossible". This song, a love ballad for his wife Rhea, was commissioned as the English lyric to Armando Mansanero's "Somos Novios". The English version, "It's Impossible", was originally performed by Perry Como was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1972. This success was marred by the verdict of an American court, which ruled against Manzanero in a plagiarism case involving the Spanish lyric to "Somos Novios". This was a great blow for Manzanero, who had composed the song "Somos Novios" twenty years before and who was himself the victim of plagiarism by a Spanish composer. Today, it's acknowledged that Manzanero was indeed the composer of this song and that he was wrongfully accused.
In 1980 Wayne relocated to Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where he continued to write for commercial television and advertising with another songwriting partner, Stephen Arnold.
Filmography
- G.I. BluesG.I. BluesG.I. Blues is a 1960 Elvis Presley musical motion picture played as a romantic comedy. It was filmed at Paramount's Hollywood studios, with some pre-production scenery shot on location in Germany before Presley's release from the army. The movie reached #2 on the Variety weekly national box office...
(1960)- Song: "Tonight Is So Right For Love" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Abner Silver)
- Song: "What's She Really Like" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Abner Silver)
- Song: "Frankfort Special" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Sherman Edwards)
- Song: "Big Boots" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Sherman Edwards)
- Song: "Didja' Ever" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Sherman Edwards)
- Flaming StarFlaming StarFlaming Star is a 1960 western film starring Elvis Presley, based on the book Flaming Lance by Clair Huffaker. Critics agreed that Presley gave one of his best acting performances as the mixed-blood "Pacer Burton", a dramatic role. The film was directed by Don Siegel, and had a working title of...
(1960)- Song: "Flaming Star" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Sherman Edwards)
- Follow That DreamFollow that DreamFollow That Dream is a 1962 musical film starring Elvis Presley made by Mirisch Productions. The movie was based on the 1959 novel Pioneer, Go Home! by Richard P. Powell. Producer Walter Mirisch liked the song Follow that Dream and retitled the picture...
(1962)- Song: "What A Wonderful Life" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Jerry Livingston)
- It Happened at the World's FairIt Happened at the World's FairIt Happened at the World's Fair is a 1963 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a cropdusting pilot.The motion picture was filmed in Seattle, Washington, site of the Century 21 Exposition, the 1962 World's Fair. The governor of Washington at the time, Albert Rosellini, suggested the setting to...
(1963)- Song: "Happy Ending" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Fun in AcapulcoFun in AcapulcoFun in Acapulco is a 1963 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress. While some exterior scenes were shot in Acapulco, Mexico, Elvis's scenes were shot in Hollywood. He never went to Acapulco. The movie featured the Top 10 Billboard hit "Bossa Nova Baby". The film...
(1963)- Song: "Fun in Acapulco" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Song: "Slowly But Surely" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Roustabout (1964)
- Song: "It's Carnival Time" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Girl HappyGirl HappyGirl Happy is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy in the beach party film and spring break style, starring Elvis Presley.This was the last mega-successful Elvis Presley film at the box office, finishing at #25 on the Variety year-end top-grossing films of 1965 chart and making $3 million,...
(1965)- Song: "Cross My Heart and Hope To Die" - (Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Song: "Do The Clam" - (Written by: Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, Dolores Fuller)
- Tickle MeTickle MeTickle Me is a 1965 Western musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley as a champion rodeo bull-rider and bronco-buster. Elvis Presley won a 1966 Golden Laurel Award as the best male actor in a musical film for his role in this comedy. It is also the only Elvis film released by Allied Artists...
(1965)- Song: "Slowly But Surely" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Frankie and JohnnyFrankie and Johnny (1966 film)Frankie and Johnny is a 1966 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. The role of "Frankie" was played by Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies TV series. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly national box office list for 1966. The budget of the film was estimated at...
(1966)- Song: "Frankie and Johnny" - (Written by: Jimmie Rodgers, Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, Fred Karger)
- Song: "Chesay" - (Written by: Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, Fred Karger)
- Song: "Hard Luck" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- From Hell to Borneo (1966)
- Song: "Sugar Cane Man" - (Written by: Sid Wayne and Sharon Silbert)
- Song: "Web Foot Waddle" - (Written by: Sid Wayne and Sharon Silbert)
- Song: "Lonelier Than I" - (Written by: Sid Wayne and Sharon Silbert)
- Paradise, Hawaiian StyleParadise, Hawaiian StyleParadise, Hawaiian Style is a 1966 musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was the third and final motion picture that Presley filmed in Hawaii. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly box office chart, earning $2.5 million in theaters....
(1966)- Song: "Dog's Life" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- SpinoutSpinoutSpinout is a 1966 musical film and comedy starring Elvis Presley as the lead singer of a band and part-time race car driver. The movie was #57 on the year end list of the top-grossing films of 1966.-Plot:...
(1966)- Song: "Spinout" - (Written by: Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, Dolores Fuller)
- Song: "I'll Be Back" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
- Song: "Easy Come Easy Go" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Double Trouble (1967)
- Song: "It Won't Be Long" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- ClambakeClambakeClambake is a 1967 musical film starring Elvis Presley, and co-starring Shelley Fabares and Bill Bixby—the last of his four films for United Artists. The movie reached No. 15 on the national weekly box office charts.-Plot:...
(1967)- Song: "Clambake" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Song: "How Can You Lose What You Never Had" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Stay Away, JoeStay Away, JoeStay Away, Joe is a 1968 comedy-drama western film with musical interludes set in modern times and starring Elvis Presley, Burgess Meredith and Joan Blondell. The film was based on the 1953 novel by Dan Cushman, a satirical farce...
(1968)- Song: "Stay Away, Joe" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- SpeedwaySpeedway (film)Speedway is a 1968 action film musical film starring Elvis Presley as a racecar driver and Nancy Sinatra as his love interest.Scenes were shot at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina...
(1968)- Song: "Who Are You (Who Am I)" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)
- Song: "He's Your Uncle Not Your Dad" - (Written by: Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman)