![]() Still, “MacArthur Park” rose above those supposed handicaps and became a hit in its day and would also become a hit for several other artists in later years. And fourth, it was not sung by a mainstream pop music star. ![]() Third, its lyrics were baffling, confounding and/or distracting for some, and would later draw long-lived critique and parody. Secondly, it was a pretty complex song musically. First, it ran 7:21 minutes at a time when 2-to-3 minutes was more the norm for pop radio play. It would also spawn more than 100 cover versions.īut initially, in the music business of its day, “MacArthur Park” was a hard sell and went nowhere. ![]() And indeed, in 1968 the song did grow on a great many listeners, defying the odds on several levels, as it sold more than a million copies and would win a Grammy. But given a chance, say its fans, the song will grow on you. The song’s lyrics, arrangement, and structure are somewhat unusual and may seem a bit confounding. “MacArthur Park” is actually a love song – or rather, a lament over love lost – though it might not convey that message to all listeners at first impression. 2 in the U.S., also topping charts in Europe, Australia, and Canada. It became a top hit on the Billboard music charts in June 1968, reaching No. “MacArthur Park” is a song written and composed by songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1967 and first recorded by Irish actor and singer, Richard Harris. He has five sons, the perfect daughter, and is grandfather to two precious granddaughters. Webb is happily married to Laura Savini, a producer and host for PBS. Piano interpretations of contemporary composers including friends Billy Joel and Randy Newman. In Spring 2019 Webb released SlipCover, his ![]() Webb continues to write and record, and has released ten solo albums, while also writing for other artists. Per BMI, his song “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” was the third most performed song between 19. Webb’s songs have been recorded by the greatest voices including Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone, Isaac Hayes, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Tony Bennett, Michael Feinstein, Michael Ball and Josh Groban. Jimmy Webb was trained in the sacred space of Motown and had his first commercial recordings there. Webb’s first book, “Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting,” in addition to being a good read, is considered a “bible” among musicians. Webb is also an author – his memoir “The Cake and the Rain” (2017) brings to life a 15-year span in Webb’s unique career, written with the same sense of poetry and story as his many hits. Webb is an international touring artist, averaging 50 shows a year. Time and again Webb has paved the way for songwriters in an ever-changing media landscape, spearheading the ongoing effort to preserve the rights of songwriters and their intellectual property in the digital age. He has also served proudly as the Vice-Chair of ASCAP. Jimmy Webb was the youngest member ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and served as its Chairman. While internationally known for his much beloved catalog of songs, he has scored for film and television including HBO’s “Tales from the Crypt,” “Rolling Stone’s Tenth Anniversary Special,” ITC Entertainment’s “The Last Unicorn,” Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories,” MGM/UA’s “Voices,” and more. In 2016 Rolling Stone magazine listed Webb as one of the top 50 songwriters of all time. His numerous accolades include the prestigious Ivor Novello International Award (2012) and the Academy of Country Music’s Poet Award (2016). ![]() Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration. Since his first platinum record “The Worst That Could Happen,” Webb has had numerous hits including “Up, Up and Away,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “Highwayman,” “All I Know” and “MacArthur Park,” and has also become a leader and mentor in the industry as a champion for songwriters. This past year saw his “Wichita Lineman” on the setlist in three major artist tours-Guns N’ Roses, Little Big Town, and Toby Keith-and used prominently in an episode of the Netflix series “Ozark.” Not many artists can say they premiered a classical nocturne and had a rap hit with Kanye West (“Do What You Gotta Do” a central hook in “Famous”) in the same year, but Jimmy’s career is full of surprises. ![]()
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