Shannon - Henry Gross
The early 1970's saw the rise of the "sensitive male" singer-songwriter, from James Taylor to Jim Croce, Cat Stevens to Paul Simon. From its beginnings in acoustic folk music, this genre evolved into a radio friendly form that was immensely popular at the time and remains a favorite for many a Baby Boomer. What it lacks in edge and hipness it makes up for in melody, heart and facial hair. Like any style, it generated a lot of forgettable songs, but also a number of classics that have endured. Such is Henry Gross's #6 hit from 1976, "Shannon."
Event though the lyrics never specify who/what Shannon is, it became common knowledge that the song is about losing a beloved dog. That subject resonated deeply with listeners who could relate to the difficulty of such a life event - and the deal was sealed by a memorable melody, heartfelt vocals, and lush production.
Though he is best known for singing a song so sincere that it's taken a fair amount of guff for being "corny," Henry has a great sense of humor, as evidenced in many of his other songs as well as in his answers to my questions about "Shannon" below.
Though he is best known for singing a song so sincere that it's taken a fair amount of guff for being "corny," Henry has a great sense of humor, as evidenced in many of his other songs as well as in his answers to my questions about "Shannon" below.