The Unlikely Life And Times Of Doc Pomus

Doc Pomus, born Jerome Solon Felder, was an American singer and songwriter whose remarkable life journey left a lasting impact on the music industry. Despite a series of physical challenges that altered the course of his life, Pomus managed to rise above adversity and become one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music.

Born on June 27, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, Pomus grew up in a working-class neighborhood filled with diverse cultural influences. As a child, he was struck by polio, which left him with walking difficulties and required him to rely on crutches or a wheelchair for the rest of his life. This physical limitation did not deter his spirit, as he immersed himself in music and writing at a young age.

Pomus found solace and inspiration in the pulsating rhythms of blues, gospel, and jazz. Despite his limited mobility, he would spend hours listening to music, cultivating a deep understanding and appreciation for various genres. In his teenage years, Pomus became deeply involved in the vibrant music scene of New York City, where he met and collaborated with many notable musicians of the time.

Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus

by Alex Halberstadt (Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4599 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

FREE

In the 1950s, Doc Pomus embarked on his songwriting career and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. His gift for crafting poignant and heartfelt lyrics, combined with his soulful voice, drew the attention of fellow musicians and industry professionals. Some of his most unforgettable compositions include "Save the Last Dance for Me," "This Magic Moment," and "Viva Las Vegas."

With his distinctive blend of R&B, rock and roll, and soul, Pomus contributed to the evolution of popular music and was instrumental in shaping its sound during the mid-20th century. His songs found great success, with many becoming timeless classics recorded by renowned artists such as Elvis Presley, The Drifters, and Ray Charles, among others.

Despite his success as a songwriter and his impact on the industry, Pomus faced personal struggles throughout his life. His physical disability often made it difficult for him to fully enjoy the fruits of his labor. Yet, despite these challenges, he continued to pour his heart and soul into his music, using it as a means of catharsis and self-expression.

As the years went by, Doc Pomus's contributions to the music industry received the recognition they deserved. In 1991, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Trustees Award for his outstanding achievements as a songwriter and performer.

Looking back on the life and times of Doc Pomus, it becomes clear that his story is one of resilience, passion, and undeniable talent. From his humble beginnings as a polio-stricken child to his rise as a legendary songwriter, Pomus defied the odds and left an indelible mark on music history.

In , the unlikely life and times of Doc Pomus serve as a testament to the power of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. His ability to overcome physical limitations and create timeless music is a true testament to his unwavering dedication and enduring legacy.

Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus

by Alex Halberstadt (Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4599 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

FREE

One of the most original, influential, and commercially successful American songwriters, Jerome Felder, aka Doc Pomus (1925-1991), gave the world a dazzling legacy of musical hits during rock 'n' roll's first decade. A role model for generations of writers and performers, Doc was renowned for his mastery of virtually every popular style, from the gutbucket rhythm and blues of "Lonely Avenue" to the symphonic soul of "Save the Last Dance for Me" to the pure pop of "Viva Las Vegas." His songs-"This Magic Moment," "A Teenager in Love," "Hushabye," "Little Sister," "Turn Me Loose," and many others-have been recorded by everyone from Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and B. B. King to Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and Bruce Springsteen, with sales exceeding 100 million. Doc was ready-made for literature. His collaborator Mort Shuman once described him as an "entire rollicking soul neighborhood rolled into one man." Garrulous, profane, hilarious, and Rabelaisian, Doc was never inhibited about offering his opinions and his friendship. His confidants, collaborators, and discoveries included Duke Ellington, John Lennon, Dr. John, Jimmy Scott, Bette Midler, and Lou Reed. In the words of renowned producer Jerry Wexler, "If the music industry had a heart, it would be Doc Pomus." Despite, or more likely because of, his successes, few acquaintances knew that this writer of jukebox hits led one of the most dramatic and unlikely lives of his time. Spanning extravagant wealth and desperate poverty, suburban domesticity and the depths of New York's underworld, worldwide fame and near-total obscurity, enduring love and persistent loneliness, Doc's story remains one of the great untold American lives. Its chapters comprise a back-room history of rock 'n' roll, touching on more than a half-century of American popular music-from the blues Doc performed with Lester Young to his collaborations with the luminaries of New York's punk scene, shot through with vivid portraits of virtually every major player. Lonely Avenueis the first biography of this American original, so elegantly rendered that it reads like a novel, and fortified by full, exclusive access to Doc Pomus's family, friends, voluminous journals, and archives.