Ben Raleigh
Lyricist Ben Raleigh helped create many
popular songs, like "Tell Laura I Love Her"
and the Johnny Mathis hit "Wonderful,
Wonderful." Raleigh's "Love Is a Hurtin'
Thing" won a Grammy for Lou Rawls.
At age 86, Raleigh died during a kitchen fire
in his Los Angeles home.
Sherman Edwards
Composer and songwriter ("Wonderful, Wonderful", "Dungaree Doll", "See You in September"), he joined ASCAP in 1953 and
collaborated musically with Hal David. His other popular-song compositions include "Broken-Hearted Melody", "Wind, Sand
and Stars", "Johnny Get Angry" and "I Am".
Sherman Edwards was born in New York taught American history at James Monroe High School. After earning an undergraduate
degree in history, at New York University, he later did graduate work in history at Cornell University. He appeared as an
actor in My Sister Eileen and the Broadway revue Pins and Needles. He began working as a pianist, playing for performers
Lisa Kirk, Eddie Fisher and Mindy Carson. Later, he played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Louis
Armstrong. In the late 1950s, he began writing popular music, including the hit songs Broken-Hearted Melody" (lyrics by
Hal David), "See You in September" (music and lyrics co-written by Sid Wayne) and "Wonderful, Wonderful" (lyrics by Ben
Raleigh). 1776 (for which he won a 1969 Tony Award) was his only Broadway score.
Wonderful, Wonderful
Words & music by:-
Ben Raleigh & Sherman Edwards
Sometimes we walk hand in hand by the sea
And we breathe in the cool salty air
You turn to me with a kiss in your eyes
And my heart feels a thrill beyond compare
Then your lips cling to mine
It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love
Sometimes we stand on the top of a hill
And we gaze at the earth and the sky
I turn to you and you melt in my arms
There we are, darling, only you and I
What a moment to share
It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love
The world is full of wond'rous things it's true
But they wouldn't have much meaning without you
Some quiet ev'ning I sit by your side
And we're lost in a world of our own
I feel the glow of your unspoken love
I'm aware of the treasure that I own
And I say to myself
It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love