On June 28, 1957, 69 years ago today, Sharyn Felder's parents got married. Her mother was actress Willi Burke and her singer/songwriter father went by the name Doc Pomus. He had written many hit songs, including "Young Blood," "This Magic Moment," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Save the Last Dance for Me." The Drifters recorded "Save the Last Dance for Me" in 1960 and it went to #1. For Pomus, who collaborated with Mort Shuman (shown above) on the song, it was just the beginning of a string of notable hits. Then over time "Dance" became his most lasting composition because it resonated with anyone who heard it, and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
It was only in 1991, when Sharyn Felder was going through her father's things after his death, that the inspiration for the song was revealed. She found some unused invitations to her parents' wedding, one with a hand-scribbled note on the side that said "Save the last dance for me." Was it a communication between her parents, an idea for a song, or just a random thought scribbled in a hurry? There were more song lyrics on the back that had been added later. In any case, it was the genesis of a song that became a hit three years later. Read why that note was significant, and what made it bittersweet, at the Library of Congress. -via Metafilter
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