Arthur Hamilton, “Cry Me a River” Songwriter, Dies at 98

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98-year-old Arthur Hamilton, famed for the heartrending ballad “Cry Me a River,” which he penned and received an Oscar nomination, passed away recently. This timeless song has been beautifully interpreted by Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Cocker, among others.

This week, I learned of the sad news about someone’s passing, as shared by ASCAP and the Society of Composers and Lyricists. At the moment, further details are still emerging.

Hamilton got nominated for an Oscar in the best song category, along with composer Riz Ortolani, for the track “Till Love Touches Your Life” from the 1970 film “Madron“. This beautiful melody was sung by Richard Williams and Jan Daley, contributing to the Western movie that featured stars like Richard Boone and Leslie Caron.

In the 1955 movie “Pete Kelly’s Blues,” produced by Warner Bros., Jack Webb both starred and directed, with Hamilton composing two melancholic songs for Peggy Lee. She portrayed an alcoholic jazz singer in this musical crime film. The tunes, titled “He Needs Me” and “Sing a Rainbow,” later became popular as a children’s classic.

Back in the day, I was just a kid, dreaming of making it big in the music world. Just like me, Julie London was also a budding artist, attending the same school as I did – the Hollywood Professional School. We even shared a special moment when he took her to our senior prom. Fast forward to 1955, she released an album called “Julie Is Her Name,” and among the tracks was a beautiful rendition of “Cry Me a River.” Guess what? It became a massive hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100! Unfortunately, it wasn’t originally sung for the film, as Fitzgerald’s version didn’t make the cut. But Julie’s version surely did justice to that classic tune.

Approaching it as if from a heartbroken lover, the minimalist “Cry Me a River” commences with: “Now you claim to be forlorn / You wept all through the night / But go ahead and weep me a sea / Weep me a sea / I’ve already wept oceans over you.

On her 1961 record titled “Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!“, Fitzgerald introduced her rendition, while Cocker showcased his on the 1970 live album produced by Leon Russell, called “Mad Dogs & Englishmen“.

Song ‘Cry Me a River’ has been covered by various artists including Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Susan Boyle, Michael Bublé, Jeff Beck, Diana Krall, Björk, and Aerosmith, to name a few.

In 2010, Hamilton said to The Wall Street Journal, “I found the phrase delightful.” He explained that instead of using common phrases like “Eat your heart out” or “I’ll get even with you,” it seemed like a clever, intelligent response when someone has hurt your feelings or broken your heart.

The ongoing amusement I find in its casual usage as an insult never ceases to astound me. When my spouse and I are enjoying a movie or series together, and that term is uttered, it brings on fits of laughter and playful jabs between us.

Arthur Hamilton Stern was born in Seattle on October 22, 1926. His dad, Jack Stern, was a film composer and arranger who contributed to movies such as “His Night Out” (1935), “Little Miss Nobody,” starring Jane Withers (1936), and “Sweetheart of the Navy” (1937). Meanwhile, his mom, Grace Hamilton, penned lyrics for her husband’s compositions.

As a baby, he moved to Los Angeles with his parents. He later picked up the skill of playing piano and in 1949, penned a live stage musical titled “What a Day” for local station KTTV. For a few years after that, he worked for a music publishing firm.

Hamilton expressed that Bobby Short, the renowned cabaret performer, inspired him greatly. On a podcast episode of The Paul Leslie Hour in 2016, he shared, “I often told people, ‘Instead of going to college, I went to Bobby Short.’

In 1959, I was thrilled when Bobby Darin switched “He Needs Me” to “She Needs Me” for his second album, a record that also featured hits like “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea.” And let’s not forget about Hamilton’s discography, which boasted tracks such as “Rain Sometimes,” “One Look,” and “The Best I Ever Was.

In 1993 and 1994, he received Emmy nominations for his songs “Good Things Grow” from the TV movie “Blind Spot” and “Something Is Out There” from the TV movie “The Corpse Had a Familiar Face.

In London’s repertoire, a soulful rendition of “Cry Me a River” with just Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Leatherwood on bass marked a significant milestone. This version was launched through the fresh Liberty Records label and has since been identified as her iconic track. In 2015, it was honored by being included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

London’s image, personality, and voice so perfectly represent the atmosphere of smoky nightclubs and intimate stages that every aspiring singer, unconsciously or not, is essentially embodying and honoring Miss Julie London whenever they perform a song on stage,” stated Cary O’Dell from the Library of Congress.

Hamilton held the position of the Society of Composers and Lyricists’ second president from 1985 to 1987, served as a governing body member in the music branch at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was a board member of the ASCAP Foundation.

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2025-06-07 17:55