Bill Sharkey: Live Cover Songs

Mighty Quinn (Bob Dylan, 1967; Manfred Man, 1968). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-24. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Mighty Quinn" [aka Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)] was written and recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967; however, it was Manfred Mann whose version charted with the song a year later hitting the #10 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013). According to songfacts.com (2021), Dylan's "Quinn the Eskimo" was most likely inspired by the film "The Savage Innocents," in which Anthony Quinn played an Eskimo. Manfred Mann's vocalist Mike D’Abo stated that Dylan had sent the group a demo of the song but Dylan's singing "was so [un]intelligible at some points that the group had to guess the lyrics ('guarding fumes' turned into 'jumping queues'), and at the beginning of the third verse, they had to completely make up their own lyrics. D’Abo claimed it was like 'learning a song phonetically in a foreign language'” (last.com, 2009).

Bill Sharkey - Lullaby and Goodnight (words & music by W. F. Sharkey ⓒ 2021). To be released available on all major streaming services on October 1, 2021. The physical CD will be available between Oct. 7 - 10 on Amazon and Bandcamp. Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-20. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey "Marrakesh Express" was Crosby, Stills & Nash's (CS&N) first entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart climbing to #28 in 1969, this was before Neil Young joined the group. According to Graham Nash, the writer of the song, he was on a train trip from Casablanca to Marrakesh; while in third class he saw that "there were lots of people cooking strange little meals on small wooden stoves and the place was full of chickens, pigs and goats. It was fabulous; the whole thing was fascinating” (R. Hughes, loudersound.com, April 24, 2014). He wrote the song based on his experience a year later while touring with his band The Hollies, who also partially recorded the song but never completed it (R. Hughes, loudersound.com, April 24, 2014). The Woodstock Music Festival, August 18, 1969, was the first time CS&N performed the song publicly (Wikipedia, 2021). CS&N were one of the super groups to form in the late '60s: David Crosby came from The Byrds; Steven Stills came from Buffalo Springfield; Graham Nash came from The Hollies (J. Doyle, pophistorydig.com, Nov. 18, 2018).

Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett, 1977). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-17. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey Jimmy Buffett had 7 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Margaritaville" was his highest charting release landing at #8 in 1977 (Whitburn, 2013). According to groovyhistory.com (2021), Buffett was in Key West when he saw a number of tourists, the sight stuck with him. Then, when he was in Austin TX at Lung's Cocina del Sur on Anderson Lane in 1976, he discovered the margarita drink for the first time and was inspired. Buffett and his band set the structure for the song and put on the finishing touches back in Key West. It turns out, Buffett said that the song was suppose to be recorded by Elvis Presley, but he passed away in Aug of 1977 and never got around to recording the song (groovyhistory.com, 2021).

Cloudy (Simon & Garfunkel, 1966). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-14. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey "Cloudy" is found on the 1966 Simon and Garfunkel album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 Album chart (Whitburn, 2006). The song was written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley of The Seekers fame (sunsigns.org, 2017). Besides Simon & Garfunkel, "Cloudy" was also covered by The Cyrkle on their Red Rubber Ball album and by The Seekers on their Seekers Seen in Green album (discogs.com, 2021).

Kodachrome (Paul Simon, 1973). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-15. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey "Kodachrome" was Paul Simon's 2nd top 10 hit rising to #2 on the Billboars Hot 100 chart in 1973 (Whitburn, 2013). "Kodachrome" was Paul Simon's 2nd top 10 hit rising to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973 (Whitburn, 2013). According to songfacts.com (2021), "Simon was working on a song with the title 'Coming Home' when the word 'Kodachrome' came to him. He had no idea what it meant, but knew it would make for a much more interesting song than 'Coming Home.' The song became an appreciation of the things that color our world, and a look at how our memories are framed to fit our worldviews." For those who are a bit younger, Kodachrome was a type of color photographic film created in 1935 by the Eastman Kodak Company, which stopped film-processing in 1988 (C. Suddath, content.time.com, Jun. 23, 2009) and discontinued the production of Kodachrome film June of 2009 (pbs.org, 2009). Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas was the last Kodachrome color film processor, but they stopped development of the film in 2010 (M. Padua, shootfilmco.com, Jan 24, 2017). Digital cameras killed much of the film industry.

Aloha Everyone: Here is an excerpt from my forthcoming album, Longing, "Anytime At All." To be released on CD, iTunes, and available on all major streaming services on October 1, 2021.

Sugar and Spice (Searchers, The, 1963; Cryin' Shames, The, 1966). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-04. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey "Sugar and Spice," written by the Searchers' producer Tony Hatch under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale (B. Eder, Allmusic.com, 2021), was the Searchers third release in the USA and rose to #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964 (Whitburn, 2013). The Cryin' Shames' version of the song was their first and highest charting single in 1966 hitting the #49 position on the Billboard chart (Whitburn, 2013). The Searchers were an England Beat group and were associated with the Merseybeat scene (The Searchers Page, Facebook.com, 2021), while the Cryin' Shames hailed from Chicago, IL (last.fm, 21011).

Lay Down Sally (Eric Clapton, 1977). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-09-08. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Released in the winter of 1977, "Lay Down Sally" was Eric Clapton' fourth top 40 hit landing at the #3 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. The song was written by Clapton, Marcy Leven, and George Terry (Whitburn, 2013). The song was also Clapton's first entry onto the Billboard Top Country Singles chart rising to #26 (Whitburn, 1993). Clapton was born Eric Patrick Clapp in 1945 and was a member of various noteworthy groups: The Roosters, The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith (Whitburn, 1993). "Lay Down Sally" is performed in J. J. Cale style (last.fm, 2021) , whom was one of Clapton's highly respected influencers (guitarworld.com, 2021). As a side note, for those named Sally, since the release of the first Billboard Hot 100 on August 4, 1958 (Whitburn, 2013), there have been 14 "Sally" songs that reached the top 100 and two hit the top 10: The Jaynetts' "Sally, Go 'Round the Roses" (#2) and Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally" (#3); (note: Paul McCartney & Wings' "Junior's Farm" rose to #3 while the "B" side of the single, "Sally G," rose to #17) (X. Zellner, billboard.com, 03-28-2019; Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Summer (War, 1976). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-31. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Summer" was War's eleventh top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart rising to the #7 position in 1976 (Whitburn, 2013) and was their last top ten hit (S. Huey, allmusic.com, 2021). The song was released on the 1st day of summer, June 21, 1976 (Whitburn, 2013). According to War's biography website (war.com, 2021), they were the first group to include a new release on a greatest hits' album; "Summer" was the song, and it eventually became one of their greatest hits, receiving a gold record for 500,000 singles sold (riaa.com, 1977). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel, 1966). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-29. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Homeward Bound" was Simon & Garfunkel's second release and second top 10 hit, rising to the #5 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013). Simon offered the song to Chad & Jeremy, but they decided to not release it as a single; Chad Stuart regretted their decision after Simon & Garfunkel's release hit it big in the US (D. Rosemont, originalsproject.us, 2021). On writing "Homeward Bound," Simon has stated that he wrote the song while playing in Liverpool, England (songfacts.com, 2021). After one of his performances, he was waiting for a train back to London while saying goodby to a woman he had recently met at the club he was playing at, Kathy Chitty; his leaving and fondness for Kathy appear to be the inspiration for the song (Wikipedia, 2021). Interestingly, Simon has claimed that he does not like the song (songfacts.com, 2021).

"Teenage Idol" by Ricky Nelson was his 28th top 40 hit, rising to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962 (Whitburn, 2013). At the age of 17 in 1957, Ricky was already a household name due to his role in his parents' radio and then TV show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet;" 1957 was the year of his first entry onto the Billboard charts with his #4 song, "I'm Walking" (rickynelson.com, 2021). He quickly became one of the first teen idols of the Rock 'n' Roll era (Whitburn, 2013). The song "Teenage Idol," written by Jack Lewis, seemed autobiographical for Ricky at this point in his career. Rick(y) continued recording and performing until, tragically, "on New Year’s Eve 1985 he was flying to a gig in Dallas, Texas when [the band's] aircraft crashed in a field near DeKalb, Texas. The plane caught fire, trapping everyone inside, except the pilot and co-pilot, who escaped through the cockpit window; Rick, his band and his fiancé all tragically died" (rickynelson.com, 2021).

Sweet Cream Ladies (Box Tops, The, 1968). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-10. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Sweet Cream Ladies," the Box Tops' 6th consecutive top 40 hit rose to the #28 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was an interesting choice due to the fact that the lyrics focus on the prostitution profession (urbandictionary.com, 2021). R. McGinnis has hypothesized that "The Box Tops must have wanted to not get boxed in as too straight-laced when they released 'Sweet Cream Ladies,' as it was their follow up to 'I Met Her In Church'" (vancouversignaturesounds.com, 2018). Alex Chilton was the lead singer, who in 1970 left the band and formed the influential, short-lived Indie rock band Big Star (allmusic.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Falling (LeBlanc & Carr, 1977). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-09. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Falling" was Lenny LeBlanc & Pete Carr's only top 40 hit rising to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978 (Whitburn, 2013). In 1977, LeBlanc & Carr were on their first tour promoting the single and their album and were the opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd; the tour ended on October 20th of that year when Lynyrd Skynyrd, in a plane crash, lost three band members, Cassie Gaines, Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant, as well as pilots McCreary and Gray, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick (J. M. Collins, grunge.com, 2019; songfacts.com, 2021). LeBlanc then ventured into Christian music, while Carr returned to session work playing for many artists such as Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Millie Jackson, Paul Kossoff, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Rivers, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, and Rod Stewart (W. Jancik, nehitwondersthebook.com, 1997). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Everybody Knows (You Said Goodbye) (Dave Clark Five, The, 1967). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-07. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Everybody Knows (You Said Goodbye)" was the Dave Clark Five's last release to hit the USA Billboard Hot 100 chart stalling at #43 in 1967-1968; it remained on the chart for 8 weeks (Whitburn, 2013). It did much better in the UK hitting the #2 position on their chart (Wikipedia, 2021). In a change, Lenny Davidson, the lead guitarist, sang lead instead of Mike Smith (R. Unterberger, allmusic.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

If I Said You have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me (Bellamy Brothers, The, 1979). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-08-04. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "If I Said You have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" was the Bellamy Brothers' second and last top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart landing at #39 in 1979; however, they had a slew of hits on the Billboard Country chart, where this song held the top position for three weeks (Whitburn, 1994, 2013). According to David Bellamy, the song title was borrowed from Groucho Marx, who would use the line on is TV show "You Bet Your Life" (whenthecowboysings.com, 2020). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Sure Gonna Miss Her (Gary Lewis & the Playboys, 1966). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-07-14. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Sure Gonna Miss Her" was Gary Lewis & the Playboys' sixth consecutive top 10 hit rising to the #9 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 (Whitburn, 2013). According to Gary Lewis, the song "is the largest selling internet tune" of the Playboys, selling more than "This Diamond Ring" and "She's Just My Style" (Wikipedia, 2021). The original classical guitar solo was played by The Wrecking Crew's Tommy Tedesco (songfacts.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Iko Iko (Dixie Cups, The, 1965; Belle Stars, 1989). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-07-21. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Iko Iko," also known as "Jock-A-Mo," was originally released in 1953 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and his Cane Cutters; however, the song did not chart. In 1965, the Dixie Cups' version rose to the #20 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart followed in 1972 with Dr. John's version (#71), and then Belle Stars' take in 1989 was the highest charted version hitting the #14 position on the chart. In an interview with Offbeat Magazine in 2002, James Crawford was asked where the song came from. He said it came from a couple of Indian chants that he put music to (K. Spera, nola.com, 2012). He was then asked what "Jock-A-Mo" means. He said: "I really don’t know (laughs). It wasn’t my idea to call the song “Jock-A-Mo”—Leonard Chess did that. . . . I’m singing C-H-O-C-K, as in Chockamo. Not J-O-C-K, as in Jock-A-Mo. When Leonard listened to the session in Chicago, he thought I said 'Jock-A-Mo.' When I saw the record for the first time I said, 'That’s not the title, it’s ‘Chock-A-Mo’” (musicandculture.blogspot.com, 2009). James Crawford died September 15, 2012, at the age of 77 (obits.nola.com, 2012). In the Dixie Cups' version, they only used "a chair, drumstick, Coke bottle, ashtray, and drums as accompaniment" (songfacts.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Can't You Hear My Heartbeat (Herman's Hermits, 1965 ). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-07-18. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" was Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits' second single release and second top 20 hit; it rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1965 (Whitburn, 2013). They were part of the British Invasion of the 1960s, and their popularity is evidenced by the fact that their first 12 releases in the USA all were top 20 hits, two of which hit the #1 position ("Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am"), all within a span of two years (1964-1966) (Whitburn, 2013). Interesting side note, the session musicians for this song were guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones (pre-Led Zeppelin fame) (jimmypage.com, 2021; forums.ledzeppelin.com, 2008). Additionally, John Carter, the co-writer of this song, sang the lead on The New Vaudeville Band's 1966 #1 hit, "Winchester Cathedral" (hyperleap.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

If I Had A Boat (Lyle Lovett, 1988). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-07-15. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "If I Had A Boat" was Lyle Lovett's 9th entry onto the Billboard Hot Country chart. The song landed at #66 in 1988 (Withburn, 1994). Although the song was not a top 10 hit for Lovett, it is one of his fans' favorite songs (mlive.com, 2014). "Lovett claims that his song is based on a true story. He once tried to ride a pony across a pond . . . and thought it would be easier if he had a boat" (songfacts.com, 2021). What is interesting about the song is it's not so subtle focus on emancipation from marriage, work relations, and being able to do as one pleases (Cheng, J., newtonfamilysingers.org, 2013). Interesting side note, Lyle was married to Julia Roberts, whom he met on the set of the movie "The Player," for just shy of two years before divorcing (Wick, S., countryfancast.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

A World Without Love (Peter & Gordon, 1964). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-06-27. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Recorded and released in 1964 by Peter & Gordon, "A World Without Love" rose to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013) as well as other charts around the world (Wikipedia, 2021). The song was penned by Paul McCartney but attributed to both Lennon and McCartney (songfacts.com, 2021). The song was Peter & Gordon's first released single and their only #1 release in the USA, although they would go on to score another nine top 40 Billboard hits (Whitburn, 2013). McCartney was, at the time, dating Peter's sister, Jane Asher. McCartney was living at the Asher house and played a portion of the song for Peter, and Peter asked if he and Gordon could have the song to use on their first EMI LP (Larkin, 1997; Songfacts.com, 2021). McCartney agreed. The rest is history. Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

The First Cut Is The Deepest (Cat Stevens, 1967; Rod Stewart, 1977; Sheryl Crow, 2004). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-06-27. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "The First Cut Is The Deepest," written by Cat Stevens, has been recorded by many artists and is found on his second album, New Masters (catstevens.com, 2021). The most popular versions that hit the US Billboard Hot 100 chart include: Keith Hampshire (1973, #70), Rod Stewart (1977, #21), and Sheryl Crow (2004, #14) (Whitburn, 2013). The song "deals with a man trying to love again after his first disappointment" (Billboard, Feb 12, 1977, p. 70). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Just A Song Before I Go (Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1977). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-06-06. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Just A Song Before I Go" was CS&N's highest charting single landing at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977 (Whitburn, 2013). According to David Crosby, "Graham [Nash] was at home in Hawaii, about to go off on tour. The guy who was going to take him to the airport said, 'We've got 15 minutes, I'll bet you can't write a song in that amount of time.' Well you don't smart off to Nash like that, he'll do it. This is the result" (D. Crosby, 1991) . . . a top ten hit single. As an interesting and baffling side note, CS&N, as well as their work with Neil Young, never produced a top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart until "Just A Song Before I Go" in 1977. Then 5 years later, 1982, CS&N scored their only other top 10 hit with "Wasted On the Way (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

One More Last Chance (Vince Gill, 1993). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-05-30. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "One More Last Chance" shows a more light hearted humorous side to Vince Gill; Usually, Gill "poured his heart and not his humor into most of his beloved hits" (B. Moore, wideopencountry.com, 2018). "One More Last Chance" was Gill's third recording to reach the #1 position on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart hitting the top position in 1993 (Wikipedia, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Abraham Martin, & John (Dion, 1968). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-05-15. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" Written by Dick Holler (Wikipedia, 2021), "Abraham Martin, & John," was a tribute to the memories of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and John and Robert Kennedy who were all assassinated (last.fm, 2010). The song was originally recorded by Dion DiMuci and was his comeback hit, after being off the charts for 4 years. The song rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 (Whitburn, 2013). Dion was quoted as saying that ""Abraham, Martin and John' was a way of reminding people that they could aspire to great things, even in the midst of tragedy and confusion” (D. Freeland, americansongwriter.com, 2010). In 1969, the song was awarded gold record status by selling five-hundred-thousand copies (RIAA.com, 2021). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey