"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 (see 1967 in music). The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations recorded slow-ballad versions of the song. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... For Once in My Life is a 1968 soul album released by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hitsville U.S.A. was the nickname given to Motown Records first headquarters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Ron Miller can refer to three different people: Ron W. Miller is the son-in-law of Walt Disney and was CEO and president of Walt Disney Productions in the 1970s and 80s. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Ronald Norman Miller (c. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City), where it achieved widespread international success. ... See also: 1960s in music. ... For other persons named Tony Bennett, see Tony Bennett (disambiguation). ... “Temptations” redirects here. ...

The most familiar and successful version of "For Once in My Life" is an uptempo hit version by Stevie Wonder, recorded immediately after DuShon's original. Wonder's version, issued on Motown's Tamla label in 1968 (see 1968 in music), was a number-two hit in the United States in late 1968 and early 1969. Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... See also: 1967 in music, other events of 1968, 1969 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding. ...

History

Jean DuShon version

Jean DuShon had originally been tapped by Ron Miller to demo "For Once in My Life", as he was "fine-tuning" the composition. Miller was impressed by DuShon's rendition of the song, and she released her version as a single on Chess Records' Cadet label early in 1966. Motown CEO Berry Gordy found out that Miller, a Motown staff writer, had given the song to an outside artist, and had Miller immediately make the song available for Motown artist Barbara McNair, who included the song on her November 1966 album release, Here I Am, and later for Stevie Wonder and The Temptations to record. Meanwhile, DuShon's version made no significant impact on the singles charts, but was chosen "Pick Hit of the Week" by Detroit's WXYZ in 1966, but Chess Records dropped the ball by not promoting the record. Miss DuShon was so distraught at the failure of the record, she dropped it from her popular nightclub act. ^[1]. Note: Author, David Freeland ("Ladies of Soul") recently contacted (June, 2007) Ron Miller's daughter (Lisa Dawn Miller) and asked her to confirm with her dad who recorded this classic first, Ron Miller said, "Jean DuShon." The Chess Records logo, as featured on this Memphis Slim single. ... Berry Gordy, Jr. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ...

Stevie Wonder version

Stevie Wonder's version was recorded at about the same time as The Temptations' in the Summer of 1967. However, Berry Gordy did not like Wonder's version, an upbeat rendition produced by Henry Cosby. Gordy vetoed the single's release, and the recording was shelved. Billie Jean Brown, the head of the Motown Quality Control department, finally coerced Gordy into allowing Wonder's version to be released in October 1968.^[2] Berry Gordy, Jr. ... Henry Hank Cosby (born May 12, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, USA)was an African-American songwriter and producer for Motown Records. ...

Contrary to Gordy's instincts, "For Once in My Life" was a highly successful record, peaking at number-two on both the Billboard Pop Singles and Billboard R&B Singles (it was held off from the number-one spot on each chart by another Motown single Gordy had originally vetoed, Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"). "For Once in My Life", issued by Tamla with "Angie Girl" as its b-side, was later included as the title track on Wonder's For Once in My Life album. The Billboard Hot 100 is the main singles chart used by Billboard magazine. ... Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... I Heard It through the Grapevine is a R&B/soul song written by Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ... For Once in My Life is a 1968 soul album released by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label. ...

The Temptations version

The Temptations' version was done in 1967 for their pop standards based album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood. Baritone singer Paul Williams sings the lead vocal on the song, and it resultantly became his showcase number in the Temptations' live shows. Williams' most famous performance of the number was during The Supremes and Temptations' TCB television special in 1968, a performance cited as the apex of Williams' career. The Temptations in a Mellow Mood is a 1967 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. ... Baritone (French: ; German: ; Italian: ) is most commonly the type of male voice that lies between bass and tenor. ... Paul Williams (July 2, 1939 – August 17, 1973) was an American second tenor/baritone singer. ... The Supremes, later billed as Diana Ross and The Supremes, were a Motown all-female singing group. ... TCB was a 1968 live television special produced by Motown Productions and George Schlatter-Ed Friendly Productions. ...

Tony Bennett version

Also in 1967, "For Once in My Life" became one of Tony Bennett's more successful forays into contemporary songs. His version of the song peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, and was the title track of his album For Once in My Life. "For Once in My Life" remained in Bennett's concert repertoire into the 2000s. In 2006 Bennett teamed up with Stevie Wonder to record a ballad tempo version for his Duets: An American Classic album, for which Bennett and Wonder received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Bennett also performed it on the Grand Finale of American Idol 6. For other persons named Tony Bennett, see Tony Bennett (disambiguation). ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals has been awarded since 1995. ... The Grand Finale of American Idol Season 6 aired on May 23, 2007, live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. ...

Ella Fitzgerald version

Ella Fitzgerald performed a slow rendition of the song live in Berlin in 1968. She began by saying, "There's a song in the States made popular by Tony Bennett. Such a beautiful tune. We'd like to try and sing it for you because we think the lyrics are so gorgeous and the tune itself is beautiful." Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as Lady Ella and the First Lady of Song, is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century. ... This article is about the capital of Germany. ...

Frank Sinatra version

Frank Sinatra also recorded the song twice, once for his album My Way (1969) and again for his 1993 album, Duets. His partners on the latter recording were Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder. “Sinatra” redirects here. ... See the disambiguation page for additional meanings. ... Duets is the name of a number of albums: Duets (Ane Brun album) (2005) Duets (Emmylou Harris album) (1990) Duets (Elton John album) (1993) Duets (Reba McEntire album) (2007) Duets (Frank Sinatra album) (1993) Duets (Barbra Streisand album) (2002) Duets: an American Classic (2007), by Tony Bennett Duets: The Final... Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American R&B/soul singer and actress. ...

Vonda Shepard version

In the courtroom comedy-drama series Ally McBeal, "For Once in My Life" was performed by show mainstay singer Vonda Shepard. The song was used to "sing" the main character Ally Mcbeal's quest for true love. The song is included in the show's original soundtrack, For Once in My Life, volume 2. Ally McBeal is an American television series which ran on the FOX network from 1997 to 2002 and was one of the best-known dramedy television series of the 1990s winning several awards. ... Vonda Shepard (born July 7, 1963) is a rock singer who gained popularity in the 1990s. ...

Other Versions

Dean Martin recorded the song as well and performed a duet of it with Smokey Robinson in a 1986 Television appearance.

Dorothy Squires recorded the song arranged and conducted by Nicky Welsh on the President label in 1969.

On the hit show American Idol a couple of people have sang the song. On the first season Justin Guarini sang this during Motown week and that performance became his signature performance and he also sang it on the American Idol: Greatest Moments CD. On the third season Camile Velasco also sang this song during Motown week. On the sixth season Melinda Doolittle sang this song in her initial audition. In the final of the talent show, Any Dream Will Do, it was sung by Keith Jack. AMERICAN IDOL HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO DEATH OF SIMON ... Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell on October 28, 1978 in Columbus, Georgia) is a singer/songwriter, actor who rose to fame in 2002, as the first runner-up on the debut season of the television show “American Idol”. His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Atlanta Chief of Police. ... The American Idol compilation series are annual television soundtracks for the television show American Idol. ... Ciara-Camile Roque Velasco (born September 1, 1985), an American , was one of the finalists on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series, American Idol. ... Melinda Marie Doolittle (born on December 1, 1977) is an American singer who finished as the third place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol. ... Any Dream Will Do is a popular song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ... Keith Jack was a contestant on the BBC reality talent show Any Dream Will Do, which offered the chance to be the next West End Joseph for the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ...

Notes

1. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. "Jean DuShon". Allmusic.com Retrieved from http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39vyxd7bjold on June 18, 2006.
2. ^ Posner, Gerald (2002). Motown : Music, Money, Sex, and Power. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-50062-6.