David Hess
| David Hess | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
David Alexander Hess September 19, 1936 New York City, New York, United States |
| Died | October 7, 2011 (aged 75) Tiburon, California, United States |
| Other names | David Dante, David Hill |
| Occupation | Actor, Songwriter, Film producer, Film director, Composer |
| Years active | 1956–2011 |
| Spouse(s) | Regina Mardek |
David Alexander Hess (September 19, 1936 – October 7, 2011) was an American actor, singer, and songwriter.
Hess was born David Alexander Hess on September 19, 1936 in New York City. His mother, Marjory, was an opera singer. Hess was Jewish.
In 1956, Hess recorded the original version of the Otis Blackwell composition "All Shook Up" under the stage name David Hill. The next year the song became a #1 hit single for Elvis Presley.
He began his professional career as a songwriter for Shalimar Music in 1957. He composed "Start Movin'" for Sal Mineo and "Rockin' Shoes" for the Ames Brothers. In 1959 he recorded a cover version of Cliff Richard's "Living Doll" for Kapp Records and it became a mild placed charter for him on the US Billboard charts. He wrote songs for Elvis Presley throughout the 1950s and 1960s, which include "I Got Stung", "Come Along", and "Sand Castles". "Your Hand, Your Heart, Your Love" became a 1960s hit when it was performed by Andy Williams. In 1962, Hess wrote and recorded "Speedy Gonzales", (as David Dante) which became a #6 single for Pat Boone in the US and a #2 in the UK, selling more than eight million copies worldwide. Hess then recorded two solo albums for Kapp Records, again topping the charts, this time with a Top Ten folk hit called "Two Brothers."
In 1969, he became head of A&R at Mercury Records in New York. There he linked up with Western classical composer John Corigliano, and together they wrote the Grammy award-winning rock opera The Naked Carmen, which became a big hit of the Berlin Ballet Week in 1970. His work with Mercury also included And the Children Toll the Passing of the Day, a 1969 album he wrote for Irish actor Malachy McCourt.
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