Mike Douglas

Michael Delaney Dowd, Jr. (August 11, 1925 – August 11, 2006), known as Mike Douglas, was an American "Big Band" era singer, entertainer, and television talk show host (The Mike Douglas Show).

Early life and career

Douglas was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 11, 1925, and began singing as a choirboy. By his teens he was working as a singer on a Lake Michigan dinner cruise ship. After serving in the United States Navy in World War II and as a "staff singer" for WMAQ-TV in Chicago, he moved to Los Angeles. He was on the Ginny Simms radio show. After that, Douglas joined the big band of Kay Kyser as a singer.

Although big band swing faded from popularity as WWII ended, Kyser had to continue performing due to contractual obligations, and continued to log a few hits with Douglas, including two notable hits, "Ole [or Old] Buttermilk Sky" in 1946 and "The Old Lamplighter" the following year. Kyser was responsible for giving him his show business name, and he continued to perform with the band until Kyser retired in 1951 due to health problems. In 1950, he provided the singing voice of Prince Charming in Walt Disney's Cinderella.

Over the Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" (often referred to as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") is a ballad, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland's signature song, as well as one of the most enduring standards of the 20th century.

About five minutes into the film, Dorothy sings the song after failing to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her relate an unpleasant incident involving her dog, Toto, and the town spinster, Miss Gulch. Dorothy's Aunt Em tells her to "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble." This prompts Dorothy to walk off by herself, musing to Toto, "'Some place where there isn't any trouble.' Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain..." at which point she begins singing.

Over the Rainbow (Livingston Taylor album)

Over the Rainbow is singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor's third album, released in 1973. Its eleven tracks include nine of his own compositions, as well as two cover versions: "Over the Rainbow", from The Wizard of Oz, and George Harrison's "If I Needed Someone".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Livingston Taylor, except where indicated.

Personnel

Over the Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole album)

Over the Rainbow is a compilation album of what is considered to be the best works of Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.

Track listing

All songs on the album are from the four studio albums Kamakawiwoʻole made when he was alive.