The answer to the question of who wrote the song “Kansas City” may surprise you. It was actually written by two men, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
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The Origins of the Song
“Kansas City” is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. The song was originally recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year. However, the best-known version of the song was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959.
The song was originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
The song was originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two white songwriters from Los Angeles who had never been to Kansas City. In March 1952, they were asked to write a song for a rhythm and blues singer named Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. Thornton recorded the song with her band, the Penguins, and it was released in May 1953.
The original version of “Kansas City” was a hit on the rhythm and blues charts, but it was not widely known outside of the black community. In 1955, another Los Angeles-based singer named Little Willie Littlefield recorded a cover of the song which added new lyrics about a train called the “Kansas City Limited.” This version caught on with white audiences and became a crossover hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country charts and #12 on the Billboard Pop charts.
In 1964, yet another cover version was released by The Beatles on their album “Beatles for Sale.” This version, which was sung by John Lennon, introduced the “ Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey” chorus that has become synonymous with the song. The Beatles’ cover helped to cement “Kansas City’s” status as a classic rock and roll tune, and it has been covered countless times by artists from all genres in the years since.
The song was inspired by a trip to Kansas City
In the early 1950s, Little Richard and his band were touring the country, frequently taking the “chitlin’ circuit” through small towns and cities in the Midwest and South. On one of these trips, they made a stop in Kansas City, Missouri. Little Richard was so impressed with the city that he decided to write a song about it.
The result was “Kansas City,” which was released as a single in 1959. The song became a hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since been covered by many artists, including the Beatles, Wilbert Harrison (whose version reached #1 on the Billboard chart in 1952), and Paul McCartney (whose version reached #28 on the Billboard chart in 1996).
The Recording of the Song
The song “Kansas City” was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. The song was originally recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including The Beatles and Wilbert Harrison.
The song was recorded by Little Richard in 1955
“Kansas City” is a rhythm and blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. First recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year, the song later became a major hit when it was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959. Both Littlefield’s and Harrison’s versions peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in early 1959, with Littlefield’s single reaching number ten on the pop chart.
The record by Little Richard was made in March, 1955 and released by Checker Records in May of that year, becoming a Rhythm and Blues hit. It was his first record for Specialty Records after leaving RCA Victor. The personnel on this recording included Richard on lead vocals and piano, Jimmy Nelson on drums, Lee Allen on tenor saxophone, Edgar Blanchard on guitar, Frank Fields on bass, and Melvin Lastie on cornet.
The song was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959
In 1959, the song was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in a style that became known as the “Kansas City sound.” This style featured a simple, rock-influenced beat with a heavy backbeat. The recording was a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number two on the pop chart.
The Legacy of the Song
“Kansas City” is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. The song was originally recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year and was a hit. The song has been covered by many artists over the years including The Beatles, Wilbert Harrison, and The Rolling Stones. The song is about a man who is headed to Kansas City to find a better life.
The song has been covered by many artists
“Kansas City” is a 1952 song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that has been recorded by more than 30 artists. The best known version was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959, which reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number two on the Billboard pop chart. The song has been covered by many artists including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.
The song has been featured in many movies and TV shows
“Kansas City” is a 1952 blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Originally titled “KC Lovin'”, the song was first recorded by Little Willie Littlefield with produced by Federal Records in 1952. The song was later popularized by Wilbert Harrison, who recorded it for Fury Records in 1959. Harrison’s version reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number nine on the Billboard pop chart.
The success of Harrison’s version led to many other artists recording the song, including The Beatles, Bobby Womack and The Rolling Stones. The song has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including The Shawshank Redemption, American Graffiti and Cold Case.
