Introduction:
“I’ll Remember You” is a poignant ballad penned by Hawaiian songwriter Kui Lee in 1964. Lee, who had returned to Hawaii in 1961 after a period on the mainland, was working as a doorman at the nightclub Honey’s. He taught himself to sing and began composing songs, eventually convincing the club’s main act, Don Ho, to let him perform. Lee wrote “I’ll Remember You” after his wife temporarily left him in 1963, and the song became one of his most cherished compositions.
Don Ho was the first to popularize the song, performing it regularly in his live shows and recording it in 1965. The song’s heartfelt lyrics and melody resonated with audiences, leading to numerous covers by artists such as Andy Williams and Roger Williams. Elvis Presley recorded his rendition on June 10, 1966, at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, with his vocals added two days later. The recording featured prominent musicians, including guitarists Harold Bradley and Scotty Moore, bassist Bob Moore, and drummer D.J. Fontana, among others.
Presley’s version was included in the soundtrack album “Spinout,” released on October 24, 1966. He later incorporated “I’ll Remember You” into his live performances, notably during his “Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite” concert in 1973, which was a benefit event for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. This performance further cemented the song’s association with Presley and introduced it to a global audience.
The song’s enduring appeal lies in its universal theme of remembrance and heartfelt emotion, making it a timeless piece in both Kui Lee’s and Elvis Presley’s repertoires. Over the years, “I’ll Remember You” has been embraced by listeners worldwide, standing as a testament to the songwriters’ and performers’ abilities to convey deep emotion through music.