On this day, January 25, 1965, Albert "Al" Nevins died.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Who? You don't know the name, but he wrote this one song that you've heard a few times.

Al Nevins

Born: May 3, 1915; Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died: January 25, 1965 (aged 49)

Associated acts: The Three Suns

Albert "Al" Nevins (born Albert Tepper; May 3, 1915 – January 25, 1965) was an American musician, producer, arranger, guitarist and violinist. He was also a member of pop trio The Three Suns, and is considered one of the major forces behind the evolution of the 1950s music into the early 1960s pop/rock music.

The Three Suns

Main article: The Three Suns

Al Nevins was born in Washington, D.C. in 1915. In 1939, in partnership with his brother, accordionist Morty Nevins and his cousin, organist Artie Dunn, he founded The Three Suns. The band was signed to RCA Victor.

Al Nevins' song "Twilight Time" (co-written with Morty Nevins and Buck Ram) made it to the American Top 20. (The song was covered by The Platters, who were managed by Ram, and their version sold more than 4 million copies.) It was followed by a very successful cover of "Peg o' My Heart", which became one of the best-selling records of 1947 in the United States, staying for 16 weeks on the US Billboard chart, and peaking at #2.

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Aldon Music: publishing and producing

Main article: Aldon Music

In 1958, he met the young songwriter Don Kirshner and they partnered for a publishing company that would specialize in music aimed at young listeners. The Platters' revival of Nevins' hit "Twilight Time," helped. The publishing company entitled Aldon Music became hugely successful with Nevins' business acumen and experience as a producer and arranger, and Kirshner's keen ability for discovering talented songwriters and performers, as well as the industry contacts he doggedly pursued. Aldon Music had under contract at various times several of the most important songwriters of the so-called "Brill Building" school, including Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Jack Keller. As a producer-promoter, Kirshner was influential in starting off the career of singers and songwriters including Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, and Carole King.

{snip}

Here he is in The Three Suns:

The Three Suns - Beyond the Blue Horizon - Early Exotica
137,227 views•Nov 4, 2006

Weirdo Video
11.4K subscribers

On the other side of the musical spectrum, here is the organ-accordion-guitar combo The Three Suns.

The Three Suns - Stumbling / Bye Bye Blues (1953)
38,239 views•Mar 13, 2013

vintage video clips
29.8K subscribers

The Three Suns performing stumbling and bye bye blues 1953

The Three Suns: Caravan (1944) Official Films Musical Soundie
12,033 views•Jul 6, 2013

Gerald Santana
2.66K subscribers

Official Films Presents: The Three Suns in Caravan (1944) A Musical Film Revue

Reputed to be then-First Lady Mamie Eisenhower's favorite performers, the Three Suns were a popular musical group of the mid-twentieth century (1940s - 1960s) whose soft, intimate style was the result of their unusual (for the time) basic instrumentation of guitar, Hammond organ, and accordion. Although the instrumentation and line-up of the group changed over the years, the original personnel consisted of brothers Al (1915 - 1965) and Morty (1917 - 1990) Nevins and their cousin, Artie Dunn (1922 - 1996), on guitar, accordion, and organ, respectively.

"Caravan"
Written by Juan Tizol
Performed by The Three Suns

Here's "Twilight Time," from "The X-Files" episode "Kill Switch," which is a terrific episode. (2025: It was on a few days ago.)

X-Files // Twilight Time (MSR)
13,911 views•Jul 17, 2015

NordicStarWarrior
15 subscribers

"Twilight Time" by The Platters, featured in "Kill Switch".

Thu Jan 25, 2024: On this day, January 25, 1965, Albert "Al" Nevins died.

Wed Jan 25, 2023: On this day, January 25, 1965, Albert "Al" Nevins died.

Mon Jan 25, 2021: On this day, January 25, 1965, Albert "Al" Nevins died.