I'll bet many of you have never heard of Doc Pomus. That's okay if you haven't. He was a song writer, and most of his best songs were made into hits by someone else. He wrote some good ones. Enough to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a nonperformer in 1992. He was also inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame the same year.
He's one of those great American songwriters who you know the songs...but have no idea who wrote them. I will correct that...right here and right now.
The Drifters had a major hit in the late 50's with "Save The Last Dance For Me". It was a catchy tune...but if you know the back story, it was a poignant tune as well. You'll have to wait for that little nugget, cause I'm a tease.
I have to admit...I used to think that Doc Pomus was Black. And I always thought he was from New Orleans. I was wrong on both fronts. He was, of all things, a New York Jew. Born Jerome Solon Felder, to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, in 1925. He wrote great songs, and was a blues musician in his early years...and most of his better songs were covered by Black artists. That's probably why I assumed he was Black. He took the stage name of "Doc Pomus" early on, because his love was the Blues, and he figured he'd never get far as a Blues singer named Jerome Felder.
Doc Pomus started out as a blues performer in New York, but his major talent was as a song writer. He penned the song "Young Blood", and gave it to the famed song writers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. They tweaked the lyrics, and gave it to The Coasters to sing. It was a huge hit, and even though the lyrics had been reworked, Doc Pomus got cowriting credits, and a check for $1500. He said to himself...a man could make a living writing songs like this.
And that's just what he did.
Doc Pomus wrote many of the songs that we associate with the early Sixties. Viva Las Vegas...This Magic Moment...Little Sister...and, of course, "Save The Last Dance For Me."
Doc had polio as a child. It restricted his ability as a performer...but not as a song writer. He fell in love with music as a youngster, listening to records by Big Joe Turner. His early years were marked by singing and touring in predominantly Black venues. His Jewish background, he said, led him inevitably to the Blues...to the songs of the downtrodden and disabused. His greatest songs...or I should say...his most memorable songs, aren't about that. He wrote great pop songs.
But there's another artist, who most definitely is from New Orleans, who recorded a complete album of Doc Pomus songs. That Artist is Johnny Adams. And he deserves a diary of his own...which is in the works. Johnny Adams recorded an album called "The Real Me"...back in the nineties. It is such a good album...I can't even begin to say. It is perfection. It is a whole album worth of songs that will make you tear up, just because they are so well written, and so well sung.
Now....as for the song "Save the last dance for me"....
Doc Pomus had polio. He later suffered an accident. The polio alone left him on crutches, but after the accident he was confined to a wheelchair. He married, however, a woman who was quite lovely. She was a Broadway actress and Dancer. Quite the dish.
For their wedding, Doc wrote the song "Save The Last Dance For Me." She was a free spirit, and he knew that everyone in attendance would want to dance with her during the reception. He, however, was bound to a wheelchair.. So he wrote this song.
I think it's one of the best songs ever written:
You can dance
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mmmm
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mmmm
Baby, don't you know
I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
'Til the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's your gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me, mmmm
Save the last dance for me, mmmm-hummmm
Save the last dance for me, mmmm