I have often thought that if everyone could attend a Neville Brothers show, there would be world peace. Sadly, the group no longer performs. Charles Neville, the Brothers’ 
spiritual leader, died of cancer in April 2018. Aaron Neville, perhaps the most well-known brother because of his successful solo career and eclectic collaborations with other artists, appeared in Portland billed as the “Aaron Neville Duo,” the other half of the duo being keyboardist Michael Goods. They performed a low-key set of songs, reaching back in time to Nat King Cole, The Drifters, Billy Joel and even the Mickey Mouse Club theme, and including the smash hit “Tell It Like It Is.” (Notably missing was “Over You,” Aaron Neville’s first charting song. Penned by Allen 
Toussaint, it was a modest hit in 1960, but contains lyrics not likely to be sung in public in the twenty-first century.) A highlight of the evening was “Save the Last Dance for Me,” a number-one hit for The Drifters.
Doc Pomus, composed dozens of hits for Elvis, Ray Charles, Dion, The Drifters and dozens of others. He wrote “Save the Last Dance for Me,” for his wife on their wedding day. After some later melodic polishing with collaborator Mort Shuman, it was recorded by the Drifters, featuring Ben E. King on lead vocals. The record spent three weeks at number one on the pop charts.
Doc Pomus was afflicted with polio and walked with crutches. He later was confined to a wheelchair. When he married Willie Burke, a Broadway dancer and performer, frustrated that he was not able to dance with her, he wrote this tender song of love and lust, telling his wife to “Go and have your fun,” and “You can dance / Go and carry on till the night is gone and it’s time to go,”
But don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So darlin’, save the last dance for me
A documentary movie of Doc Pomus, born Jerome Felder, was released in 2012. You can find “AKA Doc Pomus” on iTunes or Amazon or the other usual places.
