Jerome Solon Felder, known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter.
12 Facts About Doc Pomus
2.
Doc Pomus is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits.
3.
Doc Pomus stated that more often than not, he was the only Caucasian in the clubs, but that as a Jew with polio, he felt a special underdog kinship with African Americans, while in turn the audiences respected his courage and were impressed by his talent.
4.
Gigging at clubs in and around New York City, Doc Pomus often performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, and King Curtis.
5.
Doc Pomus recorded about forty sides as a singer in the 1940s and 1950s for Chess, Apollo, Dawn, Gotham, and other recording companies.
6.
Still, Doc Pomus had co-credit as lyricist, and soon received a royalty check for $2,500, an event that convinced him that songwriting was a career worth pursuing.
7.
Doc Pomus collaborated with pianist Mort Shuman, whom he met when Shuman was dating Doc Pomus's younger cousin.
8.
Doc Pomus asked Shuman to write with him because Doc Pomus did not know much about contemporary rock and roll, whereas Shuman was acquainted with popular artists of the day.
9.
Doc Pomus wrote "Lonely Avenue", a 1956 hit for Ray Charles.
10.
Doc Pomus, conceived by Pomus's daughter Sharyn Felder, directed by filmmaker Peter Miller, edited by Amy Linton, and produced by Felder, Hechter, and Miller, presents Pomus's biography.
11.
Doc Pomus died on March 14,1991, of lung cancer at the age of 65 at NYU Medical Center in Manhattan.
12.
Together with Shuman, and individually, Doc Pomus was a key figure in the development of popular music.