R.I.P. Johnny Nash, the '70s pop star who sang a classic '60s cartoon theme song
Did you grow up watching 'The Mighty Hercules'?
Johnny Nash will forever be associated with his No. 1 single "I Can See Clearly Now." The cheery song dominated the pop charts in 1972, climbing all the way to the top of Billboard Hot 100, and remained a mainstay of easy-listening radio for decades. Nash, born in Houston, had relocated to Jamaica and took heavy influence from the feel-good vibes of Bob Marley. He wrote and produced the track himself.
But, before the Texas native moved to the Caribbean in 1965, he recorded a song heard by millions of Americans every week on television. Well, millions of children, mostly.
A decade before his chart-topping "I Can See Clearly Now," the tenor crooned the theme song to The Mighty Hercules, a cartoon about the Greek mythological legend. The animated sword-and-sandal adventure aired in first-run syndication from 1963–66.
Each episode began with the honeyed voice of Nash singing, "Hercules! Hero of song and story! Hercules! Winner of ancient glory! Fighting for the right, fighting with his might…"
Between Hercules and "I Can See Clearly Now," Nash's biggest success was "Hold Me Tight," a Top 10 hit in 1968. On October 6, 2020, Nash passed away at the age of 80.
26 Comments
He is a great big phony
Hercules
He is full of baloney
Fighting for his life
With a rubber knife
Fighting paper men
This is the end
Of the mighty-Hercules!
I'll never forget, getting the end of the {5th grade} year report cards. On the back of them on the bottom, was the room number we were assigned for next year. I, like a lot of girls, hoped it would be #23. My feeling was, I couldn't get so lucky. That sort of thing falls under the heading of "happening to others." But, I anxiously glanced down at the bottom, and there was the winning #! I remember I was standing, {for whatever reason,} at the teacher's desk, and I and another girl were there. When she found out I Mr Hall, she asked Mrs. Sammon if she could switch room. Of course you couldn't, Some of the kids wound up with MS the next year, because she was going to be teaching 6th.
Anyway...One of the things that was cool about Mr. Hall, was that if we had a study period, or we had to have indoor recess or we were allowed to eat lunch in the classroom, he would let us listen to records. There was a girl in our class who had quite the 45 collection. So she volunteered to bring them and her record player to school. Either she, or Mr. Hall "took requests," and asked what we wanted to hear. One kid, {his name was Doug,} always requested "I Can See Clearly Now." It became a classroom joke. We'd say stuff like: "Don't bother to ask Doug, we know what know what song he wants!"
Curious how sometimes it’s just a single reference that calls to mind such deep intensive memories. This one is built around a song perhaps. But connects you with a very specific touch point in the past! Early crushes, a bit of fantasy, a connection that kind of makes a person feel special. Doug might’ve been the element of comedy. But landing in Mr. Hall’s class is what really counted. No doubt it was a memorable semester!
Nice memory. Many of us can relate! Thank you for sharing!