Tennessee Wig-Walk

Music, Larry Coleman (dates unknown); words, Norman Gimbel (1927–1918)

I was unable to find much about Larry Coleman, who is best known for another early ‘50s hit for Teresa Brewer, “Ricochet (Rick-O-Shay)”, and for “Changing Partners”. Norman Gimbel turned out to be a surprise. His first big hit was “Canadian Sunset” in the mid ‘50s. In 1963, a music publisher introduced him to Antonio Carlos Jobim, who needed an English translation to one of his songs, resulting in the megahit “Girl From Ipanema”. He also wrote the words to “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, and television themes for Laverne And Shirley, Wonder Woman, and The Paper Chase.