The connection between Suze Rotolo and Forbidden Road may not be obvious, unless you are a pop music geek. Here’s a little back story.
Charles Fox, who is now 84, is a prolific composer of popular music. I first about him many years ago because he collaborated with Lori Lieberman and Norman Gimbel on Killing Me Softly with His Song, which was based on Lieberman’s experience in 1971 hearing Don McLean in concert sing his beautiful song Empty Chairs (one of my favorite songs).
Fox and Gimbel managed to deny Lieberman writing credit for the song (and therefore millions of dollars in royalties). Over the years they also tried, very unconvincingly, to deny her contribution.
Another Fox/Gimbel song was I’ve Got a Name, which became a posthumous hit in 1973 for Jim Croce. And that’s the reason the Robbie Williams song Forbidden Road was recently removed from the Oscars shortlist for Best Original Song.
Fox, who is currently a member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said that the Robbie Williams song was too similar to I’ve Got a Name. Which is quite arguably true, but which also leads us back to Suze Rotolo.
More tomorrow.