Who was George Douglas?

Answer 1

George Douglas was one of the three people who are listed as composers of the classic ballad, "What a Wonderful World," first put out in 1967 by Louis Armstrong. The other two are Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. Thiele and Weiss were well known composers and musicians, but nothing is known of the third, George Douglas, and recent reprints of the sheet music often leave him off. Family members of the late pianist Dana Pelkie, say that during the fifties and early sixties, Pelkie used the melody of the song as his signature set introduction piece. According to them, he told them that he wrote it, along with fellow musicians, Thiele and Weiss, following a punishing drinking period of his life when he had lost everything and was unable to get a piano job with his own name. He called it his "resurrection from the grave" song. Following his recovery he moved to the Midwest and never wrote again. Not using his own name in the composition, he gave up all rights to it and never received any royalties.

Pelkie died in 1985, in Oklahoma City, just as the song was becoming famous in the US for the first time, when it was used in the Robin Williams movie, "Good Morning Vietnam."

Answer 2

George Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and politician who lived in the 16th century. He played a key role during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was involved in various political intrigues and power struggles of the time. He was an influential figure in the court and held important positions in the government.