"Abraham, Martin and John" is a 1968 song written by Dick Holler. It was first recorded by Dion, in a version that was a substantial North American chart hit in 1968–1969. Near-simultaneous cover versions by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Moms Mabley also charted in the U.S. in 1969, and a version that same year by Marvin Gaye became the hit version in the UK. It was also a hit as part of a medley (with "What the World Needs Now Is Love") for Tom Clay in 1971, and has subsequently been recorded by many other artists. The song itself is a tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans, all icons of social change: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. It was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy in April and June 1968, respectively.[1] Lyrics[edit]Each of the first three verses features one of the men named in the song's title, for example: After a bridge, the fourth and final verse mentions "Bobby" (referencing Robert F. Kennedy), and ends with a description of him walking over a hill with the other three men. Dion recording[edit]The original version, recorded by Dion, featured a gentle folk rock production from Phil Gernhard and arrangement from John Abbott. The song features a flugelhorn, an electric organ, bass, and drums. Although it was quite unlike the rock sound that Dion had become famous for in the early 1960s, and even more unlike Holler and Gernhard's previous collaboration in the 1966 novelty smash "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron", "Abraham, Martin and John" nonetheless was a major American hit single in late 1968. It reached number 4 on the Hot 100 and number 1 on Chicago station WLS[2] and was awarded an RIAA gold record for selling a million copies. In Canada, it topped the charts, reaching number 1 in the RPM 100 on November 25, 1968.[3] In 2001, this recording would be ranked number 248 on the RIAA's Songs of the Century list. The record was also popular with adult listeners, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Easy Listening survey. The personnel on the original recording included Vinnie Bell and Ralph Casale on guitar, Nick DeCaro on organ, David Robinson on drums, Gloria Agostini on harp, and George Marge on oboe and English horn. Chart performance[edit]Later recordings and performances[edit]
As part of medleys[edit]The song is also featured on Tom Clay's 1971 "What the World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin, and John", a medley combining Dion's recording with Jackie DeShannon's recording of Burt Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now Is Love", along with vocals by The Blackberries. Clay's recording features narration (an adult asking a child to define several words associated with social unrest), sound bites from speeches given by President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., along with sound bites from the live press coverage of Robert Kennedy's assassination, and his eulogy by his brother Edward M. Kennedy. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[13] on August 14, 1971 and number 32 on the R&B charts.[14] It reached number 3 in Australia.[15] See also[edit]
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Who is Abraham, Martin and John written about?The song itself is a tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans, all icons of social change: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. It was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy in April and June 1968, respectively.
Who is John in the Marvin Gaye song?The American songwriter Dick Holler penned his most famous song, Abraham, Martin and John, in 1968, a year when fighting against social injustice mirrors our current desperate times. Holler's classic is a tribute of course to Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.
Who had a hit with Abraham, Martin and John?“Abraham, Martin and John,” a lovely comeback hit for rocker Dion DiMucci, aka Dion, in late 1968, seems to fall into the latter category. Well-received by critics and listeners at the time (it rose to the No. 4 position on Billboard's pop chart), it has since come to be regarded generally as mawkish and trite.
Who wrote Abraham, Martin and John lyrics?Dick HollerAbraham, Martin and John / Lyricistnull
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