CONCERT INTRODUCTION

Ric Castro, 2017

The single won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the Grammy Awards of 1971. The song has been covered by over 50 artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson.

It was ranked number 48 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. After tonight, it may move up a few slots...

The chorus lyrics were partly inspired by Claude Jeter's line "I'll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in me," which Jeter sang with his group, the Swan Silvertones, in the 1958 song "Mary Don't You Weep

The choral link makes this song a fitting close for this evening's program as we will all benefit from George B. Perry's directorial debut.