We lost this genius 5 years ago this week. The entertainment world will never be the same. He died in a hospital 1 mile from my home. I cried then, and I am crying now.
He acted like mother Theresa when there was a photographer around, yet privately his own daughter had to sleep in the streets while he rolled around in his wealth.
I don't care what anyone says-I deeply miss the Jerry Lewis Telethon. I looked forward to it and enjoyed it every year and Labor Day doesn't seem quite right without it. Rest in peace, Jerry. Don't doubt that what you did on this Earth was "good stuff". Yours was a life truly well lived.
Jerry singing this song always marked the exact end of summer for me. The exact calendar didn't matter; it was this song. When he would begin, I felt the brightness, warmth and rebirth that began with spring was present, but gasping its final breaths; with the song's conclusion, it was autumn to me, blue and green giving way to brown and grey, and a chill in the air. It was a feeling of death every year, but more important an inner rebirth and sense of hope. Instead of bar-b-ques, picnics and swimming, we were headed toward sweaters, trick-or-treaters, and eventually Thanksgiving. But this one song was always the pivot for me from spring-summer's physicality and energy to the more spiritual focus of autumn. Pure bittersweet. And nobody could mark this shift like Jerry singing this song. When one energy fades, another takes over.
so very very true. that last weekend of summer before school resumed in the late 70's...stayed up with Jerry "and watched the stars come out" somewhere after midnight on the east coast you passed out to sleep and awoke to labor day, but Jerry was still on.... i found myself holding onto every hour until there were no more hours left...it was time for his song and just like that the summer was over.... and it was this way for so many more labor days after that....
@@philballon7236 Thanks for reply; I think he may have been fired but not sure... pretty easy to look up, I'm sure.... but the separation was definitely controversial and I wouldn't be surprised if there were substantial, probably acrimonious debate about what happened.
They dumbly moved 'the end of school' ahead to mid May, could be 20 years ago. Then, they made kids go back IN AUGUST! (they claim it's so University and undergrade students are not in sync, and teachers get out later, or I dunno?) OMG! You are supposed to go back THE DAY AFTER 'LABOR DAY'. ALSO, then The 'JERRY LEWIS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ' TELETHON went off. O M G! Not saying this is ONLY reason kids are in more trouble than ever, but it's part! Helping the MD children, watching and participating in the TELETHON, that was history and part of childhood. Here in TUCSON, AZ. it was a BIG DEAL, as everywhere. ABC 9 announcers stayed on and stayed up, and everyone cheered the FINAL TOTE BOARD count, plus the local tally. [ I even stayed up all night several times watching, but then they reran segments cause stars didn't want to be on at 3 in the morning. It's just never been the same and we've all suffered! ] No more JERRY and no more TELETHONS, equals no more solidarity. No coincidence schools are just worse than ever. the mad kids are still getting better, but there must be less money?!
I LOVE WHAT HE HAS DONE AND STANDS FOR.. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HIS FLIGHT. HE IS JEWISH I AM SOUTHERN BAPTIST BUT THAT DOES NOT MATTER,,,, WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND JERRY IS A GREAT PERSON THAT HAS HELPED SO MANY. I LOVED YOUR POST.
Jerry has a beautiful voice. This has to be the most emotionally stirring song out there and every year's performance of this song by Jerry is a testimony to this statement. I love Jerry.
This 1987 version might be his best in close to 50 years of telethons. Jerry's vocals are solid and the orchestra with violins, power horns and the crescendo is amazing. - Chills !
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
The first time ever saw this song performed, it was by Jerry, at the end of a Labor Day MDA Telethon in the mid-1970s, perhaps 1975. He was about 50, and had been performing non-stop for 72 hours. At the end of the song, he collapsed in an exhausted, sobbing heap.
This man was a fabulous human being, I don,t care what people are saying now including his ungrateful family, because it,s nobody,s business ! As far as an entertainer, Director, Producer, Actor, Singer, and all around expert in the entertainment industry plus over 40 years service to Muscular Dystrophy Period !!!!!
YES THOSE TELETHONS WERE GREAT WALK ALONE & SMILE MAKES ME CRY ALL THE TIME. HE GAVE SO MUCH THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER. ALL THE LOVE &CARE HE PUT INTO MDA. "DEVOTION " PLUS BEING A GREAT ENTERTAINER ❤❤ ALWAYS REMEMBER SMILE 😊
I don't care what anyone says. Jerry is a great guy. Hes nit the only person in the world thats a perfectionist and gets angry sometimes. All in all hes a really swell guy thats done a lot of good. He doesnt deserve the hate some people give him.
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
As a young kid, a young teenager and a young adult. I had never missed this telethon here. I know at times it was hard to stay up and watch all night but never could. Jerry had always made out great every year with this. As long as it was on, I enjoyed every minute of it. Had some great memories and Good times watching with family too. It's a shame that nobody took this over and continued it.
Memories...wow...staying up all night and day with Momma watching the MDA Telethon and tears flowing when he sang this song at the end every year.I wish I would have known then how big a deal those times really were. Youth is truly wasted on the young.
princessq62 I also use to watch the telethon with my mom all night and all day the next day every time Jerry sang this song it would make us both cry. U are very right youth is wasted on the young
Back in the day when it was shown as a 24 hour marathon, my brothers and sisters used to stay up an watch it. The only time our parents would let us stay up
@@lindavillarreal9992 My mom would have all sorts of junk food for us kids to eat. We were allowed to stay up as long as we could. I was able to stay up for at least 10 telethons. I was the youngest child. I am thinking that I might have stayed up just so I could eat the junk food.
The dedication this man has to people with MD should never be forgotten, for almost 6 decades Jerry Lewis was the Labor Day Weekend. I grew up with Jerry Lewis, he's my hero and should be a hero to all sound minded people.
Mr. Lewis, you're the face of MDA to this day. I Shall always think of you as the voice and heart behind this hideous disease. You, since I was a kid, made my Labor Day complete. I love and will always adore you, God Bless, from NH!
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
Mr. Jerry Lewis. His unequivocal drive and generosity has placed him above and beyond. Truly a modern-day hero for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. That song destroys me every goddam time I hear him sing it. RIP. You are greatly missed in this world.
Been praying for healing for his family--and recently saw Jerry's eldest song, Gary, on an interview and his father would have been VERY, VERY proud of him!!! I think Jerry's rendition of this song has become my favorite!! Underrated singer!!
Each year I watched from end to end. The dedication of Mr. Lewis to his kids was something to see. The people he brought out to support this cause and the gentle reminders of why they were there. ❤
I LOVE Jerry Lewis... and I've love his MDA Telethon's since I was a little girl. Used to watch the whole weekend with my loved cousin Maureen who I have since lost touch with. If I had a wish, it would be to reconnect with her. Maureen I love you
My Mother always made it a point to watch the end of the telethon every year to watch Jerry sing this song which was her favorate it always made her cry, my Mom passed away in 2005 now everytime I here this song it brings me to tears its brings me back to those happy days plus gives me hope for the future even that everything in my life that was good is now gone!! :(
Dear Jerry, thank you for so much you gave this world, love, laughter, comedy, songs and films which healed, made us smile, made us think and whose light shines bright forever more. RIP, God Bless You. xxxx
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
Back in the day these telethons were one of the strings that held the country together in a shared idea that we could help others, that this man (complicated as he was) spent his energy working to help kids with MDA. In our current era where America is divided, we feel more alone than ever, I believe these telethons helped all of us feel better about humanity.
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
This was a special telethon in N.Y.u could not a family 100%to be at home.We always had military fd,pd and many others taking there time.Im si very proud my family participated n made it a tradition. Pray we can keep it going God Bless Jerry n his kids.Im 1 with no issues but I still walk on and keep the traditional going n love this man
I am now 79 y/o having watched his telethons growing up & Martin & Lewis team entertaining us. Watching this brought tears to my eyes remembering having heard him so often & what he did for our socie'ties unfortunate people with Cerebral Palsy. He raised a fortune to help them. Great man indeed
This is one of the times he was able to get through this song without breaking down and crying...say what you want about Jerry Lewis in his personal life (he had his faults) but he pulled in the dough for this worthy cause...and got kicked in the pants by MDA for all the work he did.
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
Jerry you will be missed, but you left us with wonderful memories, & God bless you for all the work you done for the MDA & make no mistake Jerry you will never walk alone because you will be surrounded by angels RIP
What a beautiful person. I remember as a child we collected from the old neighborhood for this telethon. I miss the old days.. I loved his shows\movies!
Jerry Lewis you make me cry in a good way how much I appreciated you. I wish there was more kindness in the world you brought to us. I will always have you in my heart what a great Jewish man you were. Love and rest in peace Gustavo Vega originally from Jackson Heights NY
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
Jerry Lewis is one of our greatest American Heroes. The Noble Peace Prize should of been awarded to him decades ago. His fundraising efforts to cure MD over the decades are unequaled. The Man is now 88 years of age, please give Mr.Lewis his more then deserved award while he is still with us for the love he has for humanity.
Baron Münchhausen So? Who is perfect? Who doesn't have problems? He's human. That doesn't diminish his work with this telethon. The devil loves to try to hold people to the standard of perfection. God sent his Son to relieve people of that impossible standard.
FJVideo, I agree with you wholly. Jerry Lewis may have had flaws but who the hell doesn't? May he rest in peace and may you rock on, FJVideo! Paul from Detroit, Michigan
We need to fight for it! i was only born in 1982 and this is the greatest thing i've ever watched as a child! We need to be selfless once a year and dedicate 24 hours to fight! Continue the telethon!
2018 and I'm recalling Labor Day weekends of the past with Jerry Lewis on the television. End of summer bbq's , family, and baseball. A piece of my life when times were simple. Jerry meant so much to those kids and the nation cried when he sang his song.
I watched MANY of the telethons and enjoyed them all. Jerry was a special guy and he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of MD children and adults. God rest his soul. ❤
he left everything to his wife & i think adopted daughter but nothing to his sons from former marriage. you don't do that your kids are your kids no matter what you don't do anything like that to them.
It is wonderful to see celebrities continuing to come together to do charity events for various causes through the years, but NOBODY has ever done it year after year for over 2 decades, like Jerry Lewis did for MD. He dedicated the latter part of his life to this cause and an entire generation - my generation - grew up watching his Labor Day Weekend telethons throughout our childhoods. Even though no cure has been found, great advancements have been made. MD is one of those rare diseases that is nearly impossible to figure out what causes it to happen, which makes a cure just as impossible. But this never stopped Jerry from trying. And because of what he did, the people afflicted with it suffer much less now. I think that the lesson here is - never give up on your dream or your passion, no matter how impossible the outcome may be. The purity of your efforts will be felt by others and will complete you. And, in the end, that's what life is all about...
R.I.P. Mr comedian, Mr clown, Mr producer, Mr father, Mr son, Mr Legend, Mr Genius, Mr Telethon, Mr jerry's kids, Mr Hero, Thank-you Mr Lewis for ( all ) you have done , to make This world a ( Better ) place, R.I.P. SIR a Canadian Gatineau Quebec Fan of your's ( for always ), may you rest in peace with Deno and Frank, and Mr Sammy. Thank-you from ALL of us for ( all ) you have done , to make this world a Better place, see ya on the other side ( someday ) Keep heaven a happy place, the world misses ya. chow from Michel your always fan from Gatineau Quebec Canada.
This song played in a TV Show I was watching earlier tonight and it reminded me of the night I showed you this song for the first time. I had to come back and find your comment because its one of the many memories that remind me of why you are a part of my life. Thank You for never letting me Walk Alone.
Simple music can make you sing simple hug can make you feel better simple things can make you happy, i hope my simple Hello brings smile to your face ...
O loved this man my whole life. I never laughed as hard as I did when he was teamed with dean martin. Saw all their movies. Watched every telethon. Loved this man. He is the only entertainer I have ever loved I wish now j has written to him I'll never forget him. I cried when he passed alot. Noone made me cry or laugh like he did. Yu could see the love between he and dean. I read his book dean andme. It was very good. God bless yu forever. Always in my heart
To date.. I miss Jerry Lewis. He and many others really showed how people should be towards their fellow man. Miss the good old days. Simple.. Very different times.
Having A Difficult Time with The Passing of Jerry Lewis. He was A Lifelong Hero to Me & A Constant Presence Throughout My Life. My Mama Maria was A Fan of His from the 1950's & Passed that Admiration on to Me. Watching His Films & Seeing Him on the MDA Telethon Every Labor Day was A Regular Tradition in My House in the 1970's-1980's. I Have Gone on Record Many Times Referring to Jerry Lewis as ''A National Treasure''. With His Passing, the Final Chapter of the Golden Age of Hollywood has Closed. No One Will Ever take this Fine Man's Place. I'm Happy that He is in A Better Place & Can Enjoy His Heavenly Reward. I Hope My Mama has gotten to Meet Him now too. I'll Join them Soon Enough. Until then, I Will Keep their Memories Alive. God Bless & Rest in Peace.
I have never cried over a celebrity passing but this man is someone I have always wanted to meet ever since I was a child. I never got the chance. RIP Mr. Lewis.. prayers of comfort for your family. We celebrate you today . God bless you.
