Wrote iconic "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"
One of Britain's most prolific songwriting teams, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway first came to prominence when the Fortunes recorded their composition "You've Got Your Troubles," a Top Ten smash in both the U.S. and U.K. The Fortunes released their follow-up hit, "This Golden Ring," and Gary Lewis & the Playboys scored an American Top Ten hit with "Green Grass," both Cook-Greenaway creations.
David & Jonathan, Cook and Greenaway’s alter ego, landed their biggest U.K. hit that summer with the Top Ten "Lovers of the World Unite," and the two subsequently began writing advertising jingles, most notably for Coca-Cola. In late 1967, Gene Pitney scored a Top Five U.K. hit with "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart." In 1970, Cook and Greenaway wrote a Top Ten U.S. and U.K. hit for White Plains with "My Baby Loves Lovin'" and their "Home Lovin' Man" was also a U.K. hit for crooner Andy Williams.
In late 1971, the pair’s iconic Coke jingle was adapted into the pop song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" and became a hit for both the Hillside Singers and the New Seekers; the latter's version became the pair's first U.K. chart-topper as demand for their ad jingles skyrocketed. The Congregation had a U.K. hit in 1971 with a cover of David & Jonathan's "Softly Whispering I Love You." Other Cook and Greenaway hits include "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" with the Hollies, "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" with Whistling Jack Smith and “Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling Again” with the Fortunes. Without Cook, Greenaway also had additional hit songs: Tom Jones’ recording of "Say You'll Stay Untill Tomorrow" reached #15 ont eh Billboard pop charts in 1977; The Fantastics’ recording of "Love Me Love the Life I lead" reached #86 in 1972; Crystal Gayle’s recording of "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" reached # 63 in 1980.
