“Because”...
During the first of two (2) early 1960s wedding reception events for Soprano Shirley VERRETT and Artist Louis LOMONACO at the Griffith Park VERRETT family home in Los Angeles; a voice from the throng of guests rang out, “Shirley, sing ‘Because’”! She smiled and promptly agreed. Surprisingly, another voice shouted, “Ask Carol to accompany you on the piano”! I looked up and said, “What?” As the sheet music for the requested piece was presented and place on the piano for me to play, Shirley sang to her husband, Louis. Needless to say, there wasn’t a “dry eye” in the house...
Because there is no film at my fingertips recording this happy event, I present instead Enrico CARUSO’s 1912 rendition of “Because” (French: “Parce que”) with English lyrics below:
— For Francesca & her family
