Donald Irwin Robertson (December 5, 1922 – March 16, 2015) was an American songwriter and pianist, mostly in the country and popular music genres. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. As a performer, he hit the US Top 10 with "The Happy Whistler" in 1956 (peaking at No. 6). The track reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart the same year.[1] It sold more than one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[2]
Don Robertson | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Donald Irwin Robertson |
Born | Beijing, China | December 5, 1922
Died | March 16, 2015 California, United States | (aged 92)
Genres | Country music, pop music |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, musician |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Labels | Capitol Records |
Although contracted to Capitol at the time of his biggest selling hit single, Robertson subsequently signed a recording contract with RCA Victor. He composed or co-composed with Hal Blair (né Harold Keller Brown; 1915–2001), many hits for other musicians, including Elvis Presley, who recorded more than a dozen of Robertson's songs, five of which appeared in Presley's numerous films.[2] He is also the inventor of the "slip note" piano style made famous by Floyd Cramer. Having resided in Lake Sherwood, California for 55 years, he died in 2015.[3]
Notably, Robertson lent his piano-playing skills to the Disney theme park attraction Country Bear Jamboree. His instrumental song "Pianjo" is played by the audio-animatronic bear, Gomer as the attraction’s opening number.