Everyday Creation
Everyday Creation is about purpose, awe and good vibrations. The show's title refers to three types of creation: The ways we express ourselves (for example, with art, music and so many other pursuits fueled by purpose and passion); the parts of life that fill us with awe (birth, death, love, the big picture); and our personal power to create our best possible lives while also making the world a better place. Here, you’ll encounter interviews, essays and some episodes created simply for information and fun. I'm your host Kate Jones, welcoming you to Everyday Creation.
Everyday Creation
Singer Steve Lawrence of "Steve & Evie" Fame Had His Own Top-10 Hits Including "Go Away Little Girl"
Steve Lawrence had a successful solo career with four top 10 hits in the early 1960s: "Pretty Blue Eyes," "Portrait of My Love," "Party Doll," and "Go Away Little Girl." The latter reached number one in 1962.
Lawrence, who died in March 2024, was best known as half of the singing duo Steve & Eydie with his wife, Eydie Gormé. They were married for 56 years, remarkable longevity for a show-biz couple.
The image in the thumbnail is of Lawrence's double CD "Winners!" / "Come Waltz With Me."
The photo at the end of the chapters is credited to CBS Television. It's from Steve & Eydie's 1975 special "Our Love is Here to Stay." Their sons are in the picture as are Gene Kelly and his son and daughter. You can find this public domain photo, along with its caption, on Wikimedia Commons.
There are a few recordings on YouTube of Lawrence doing "Go Away Little Girl." Here's one of them.
Carole King and Gerry Goffin originally wrote the song for Bobby Vee, but it became a hit for Lawrence. You can listen to King singing it here on the demo recording.
Donny Osmond's version also became a #1 hit in 1971, the first time a song reached number one by different artists.
This tribute is one of 41 stories that Sheldon Zoldan, a longtime journalist, has written and recorded about the music notables who passed away in 2024. He's written tributes for other years as well. You can listen to the ones from 2023 on Everyday Creation. We'll have the 2022 tributes available later this year.
Sheldon also is the creator of Song of the Day, a story that he sends by email to a list of subscribers. To get on his subscriber list, email shzoldan@comcast.net with the subject line ADD ME TO SOTD.
This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation, available on YouTube and in podcast directories including Apple, Audible, iHeart and Spotify.
Excerpt:
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"He had four top 10 hits within three
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years in the early 1960s.
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'Pretty Blue Eyes' and 'Portrait of My Love'
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reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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'Party Doll' reached number 5,
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and 'Go Away Little Girl' reached number 1
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in 1962."
Kate:
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That's just a snippet
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of Sheldon Zoldan's tribute to Steve Lawrence, who
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died in March 2024.
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For more,
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here's the rest of the story.
Sheldon:
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Steve Lawrence wasn't half bad as a solo
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act.
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Lawrence was best known as half the husband
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wife duo with Eydie Gormé ,
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but he had several hits on his own.
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Lawrence died March 7th in Los Angeles from
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complications of Alzheimer's disease.
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He announced in June 2019
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that he had the beginnings of the disease.
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He was 88.
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The Song of the Day is paying tribute
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to the singers, songwriters, and musicians who died
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in 2024.
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Lawrence grew up in Brooklyn.
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He dropped out of high school and changed
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his name from Sydney Liebowitz.
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He got his big break in 1953
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when Steve Allen hired him when he was
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host of a local late-night show.
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He stayed with Allen when Allen's show went
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national the next year.
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That's when Lawrence met Gormé.
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They married in 1957.
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Lawrence and Gormé sang together until she retired
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in 2009.
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Lawrence starred on Broadway and several television shows
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while not singing with his wife.
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He had his biggest hits early in his
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career without Gormé.
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He had four top 10 hits within three
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years in the early 1960s.
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"Pretty Blue Eyes" and "Portrait of My Love"
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reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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"Party Doll" reached number 5,
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and "Go Away Little Girl" reached number 1
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in 1962.
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Carole King and her then husband, Gerry Goffin,
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wrote the song originally for Bobby Vee, but
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Lawrence's version fared better.
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The song made headlines for another reason.
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A New York Times columnist criticized it, saying
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it was about an underage girl.
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Lawrence's version
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wasn't the only time the song reached number
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one.
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Donnie Osmond's version reached number one in 1971.
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It was the first time a song reached
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number 1 by different artists.
Kate:
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This is Kate Jones.
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You'll find a lot of other tributes on
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Everyday Creation.
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Please check them out, and thank you for
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listening.
