Thank You, Rob Miller

Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The co-author of one of pop music's lovliest and most covered songs from the 20th century has passed away. Rob Miller, who has died from cancer at the age of 74, was responsible for penning "For Once in My Life", a title that was recorded over 250 times. Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble put their own stamp on the composition, but the most famous version is the harmonica punctuated Stevie Wonder interpretation which went to number 2 on the U.S. music charts in 1968.

My favorite, though, is Bobby Darin's cover from his last television appearance in 1973. He puts his own ring-a-ding-ding on a song that works well as a ponderous ballad or swinging number. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc6OOAaQpWk

Miller wrote other hits usually recorded by Motown artists including "A Place in the Sun", "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday", and "Touch Me in the Morning". He leaves behind a wife, six children, and of course, a small but memorable song catalog.

1 comment:

  1. I'll be humming all day! Interesting to learn, that the same songwriter wrote more than one of the songs, which get stuck in my head! ...Jude

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