Charles Singleton
Charles Fowler Singleton Jr. (September 17, 1913 – December 12, 1985), known as Charlie "Hoss" Singleton, was a prolific American songwriter from Jacksonville, Florida. He is best known for co-writing the lyrics to "Strangers in the Night," a song that became a number-one hit for Frank Sinatra and revitalized Sinatra's career in 1966. Singleton co-wrote this iconic song with Eddie Snyder, adapting a melody by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert.
Singleton's career began in Jacksonville, where he graduated from Stanton High School in 1935. He was known for his musical talents from an early age, engaging in singing, dancing, and producing local shows like the "April Frolics." In the early 1950s, Singleton moved to New York City, where he was signed by Decca Records as a songwriter. He quickly found success, collaborating with Rose Marie McCoy to produce R&B hits such as "Well All Right" and "It Hurts Me to My Heart."
Singleton's songwriting prowess led him to work with a variety of artists, including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Elvis Presley. His song "Spanish Eyes," originally titled "Moon Over Naples," was another major success, recorded by numerous artists and selling millions of copies. Singleton's work earned him six Grammy Awards, and his songs "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes" were recognized by Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) as two of the Top 100 Songs of the Century.
In addition to his songwriting, Singleton attempted to document the rich jazz and black music culture of his early years in an unpublished autobiography titled "From Broad Street to Broadway." Singleton passed away in 1985, leaving behind a legacy of over a thousand songs and numerous platinum albums.
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