Smorgasbord Music Column – William Price King with The Duets – #1960s – 1968 – Simon and Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson, Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell – Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing

In this series for 2024, William will be sharing some of the iconic duets from the 1960s onwards. Collaborations between artists that were hits around the world and are still enjoyed today.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you will enjoy this trip down memory lane with me in coming months. William

1968 – Simon and Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson

The song “Mrs. Robinson” was composed for the film “The Graduate,” starring Ann Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman, directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb.

“Mrs. Robinson” became the duo’s second chart-topper, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as peaking within the top 10 of the UK, Ireland, and Spain, among other countries. In 1969, it became the first rock song to win the Grammy AWard for Record of the Year. In 2004, it finished at #6 on AFI’s 100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.

1968 – Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell – Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing

“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” was the first release from the duo’s second album: “You’re All I Need,” written and produced by Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford and Simpson.

It became a hit within weeks after its release and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the Duo’s two #1 R&B hits. In the UK “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” peaked at #34. The journal CashBox called it “a potent ballad,” saying that “Detroit backing puts a beat into the session” and praising the “splendid vocals.” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”was ranked as the 57th-biggest US hit of 1968.

Thanks for joining me today and look forward to hearing from you… William.

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Website: William Price King – Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial – Regular Venue – Cave Wilson