WORDS BY ELLIOT STEPHEN COHEN
This is the story of two brothers from Brooklyn, New York; Santo, born 24 October, 1937, and younger brother Johnny, who was born on 30 April, 1941. In 1959, they created and recorded a song that’s been used in countless movies, international commercials and other projects, and its popularity shows no signs of letting up. Johnny, who currently presides over a Manhattan-based record company, Aniraf Inc, says he still averages three weekly requests from people wanting to license Sleep Walk.
It’s been recorded or performed by the likes of Eric Clapton, The Shadows, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, James Burton and Les Paul. In 1998, Stray Cats leader Brian Setzer won an American Grammy award for Best Instrumental Pop Performance with the song, which has also been considered an inspiration for Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross, The Beatles’ Sun King, and John Lennon’s Free As A Bird.