"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and
first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda under the title
"Mbube", through South African Gallo Record Company.

In 1961, a version adapted into English by the doo-wop
group the Tokens became a number-one hit in the United
States on this day in 1961. It earned millions in royalties
from cover versions and film licensing.

Lyrics of Linda’s original version were written in Zulu, while
those from the Tokens’ adaptation were written by George
David Weiss.

The song has been adapted and covered internationally by
many pop and folk artists. It was first recorded in the United
States by the Weavers in November 1951, and published
under the title "Wimoweh."

The Tokens

The song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” topped the Billboard pop
chart on December 18, 1961, was an instant classic that went
on to become one of the most successful pop songs of all time,
yet its true originator saw only a tiny fraction of the song’s
enormous profits.

The 1960s pop duo Paul & Paula, who had a hit
with “Hey Paula.” 

Ray Hildebrand was an American singer that performed
in the 60’s group ‘Paul and Paula’. It has been reported
that Hildebrand passed away at his home in Kansas City,
Missouri last Friday. No cause of death was revealed.

MIKE GRACIA

Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002)

Jennings was a country music singer, songwriter, and musician.
best known as one of the founding pioneers of the Outlaw
Movement in country music.

Jennings started to play guitar at age of eight and first performed
at age 12 on KVOW radio, after which he formed his first band, The
Texas Longhorns. Jennings left high school at age 16, determined
to become a musician and worked as a performer and DJ on KVOW, KDAV, KYTI, KLLL, in Coolidge, Arizona, and Phoenix.

In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings’s first recording session,
and hired him to play bass. Jennings gave up his seat on the ill-
fated flight in 1959 that crashed and killed Holly, J. P. “The Big
Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens. Jennings died in his sleep
from complications of diabetes at the age of 64, at his home in Chandler,
 Arizona.

Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly, taken in a Photo Booth
(1959).

Waylon  Jennings and Buddy Holly during the Winter Dance
Party Tour in 1959.