The sounds of the greatest

Muhammad Ali was not only a real-life hero and cultural icon for the ages. The much-loved legendary boxer and symbol of racial pride died last June 3 in Arizona of respiratory complications arising from Parkinson’s Disease. In the wake of all the remembrances that ensued, it was found out that Ali was also a recording artist who made the Billboard charts and was nominated twice at the Grammy Awards. 

Now this, of course, sounds like nothing new given the fact that a lot of sports figures nowadays often dabble in other things like recording. Shaquille O’Neal is one. Soccer legend Pele has a music album. But back then during the ‘60s era, a boxer becoming a recording star was truly big news and Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was a most exciting presence.

I had never seen a copy of the long-playing album nor heard the recording when I discovered this bit of news. But thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I found the LP titled I Am The Greatest and even got to listen to some cuts. In-keeping with his image, the tracks were labeled Rounds. It was what we would call rap today with Ali talking about being the most beautiful boxer in the world and how he would bring down Sonny Liston in eight rounds. He did bring him down in six and became the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Recorded live, the comedy album was released in 1963. The title cut I Am The Greatest, backed with Will The Real Sonny Liston Please Fall Down, was nominated for the Grammys. It was also later reissued with Ali’s version of Ben E. King’s Stand By Me as the flipside. Ali got his second nomination for The Adventures Of Ali and His Gang Vs. Tooth Decay as Best Recording for Children in 1976. His gang in the album was made up of Frank Sinatra, Ossie Davis, Howard Cossell and others.

Despite these successful forays into recording though, the song that remains the most associated and by which I believe he will always be remembered is The Greatest Love Of All. This was written by the hit-powered team of MichaeI Masser and Linda Creed. Masser also co-wrote Touch Me In The Morning, Saving All My Love For You, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You, Someone That I Used To Love and others. Creed, who was battling breast cancer when she wrote the song, was also responsible for You Make Me Feel Brand New, Betcha By Golly Wow, Old Friend, Stop Look Listen To Your Heart and others.

The Greatest Love Of All was a hopeful, life-affirming message that continues to inspire listeners all over the world. It was first recorded by George Benson for the soundtrack of the motion picture The Greatest. This was based on Ali’s biography of the same title and starred the boxer himself in his first venture into acting. Nobody remembers much about the movie, but the song went on to even greater fame after it was recorded by the then up-and-coming singer named Whitney Houston for her debut album.

Sadly, both Whitney and Ali are now gone. But the music with the song The Greatest Love of All by Michael Masser and Linda Creed will live forever. 

“I believe that children are our future/ Teach them well and let them lead the way/ Show them all the beauty they possess inside/ Give them a sense of pride to make it easier/ Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.

Everybody’s searching for a hero/ People need someone to look up to/ I never found anyone who fulfills my needs/ A lonely place to be/ So I learned to depend on me.

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadows/ If I fail, if I succeed/ At least I live as I believe/ No matter what they take from me/ They can’t take away my dignity/ Because the greatest love of all/ Is happening to me/ I found the greatest love of all/ Inside of me.

The greatest love of all/ Is easy to achieve/ learning to love yourself / It is the greatest love of all.

And if by chance that special place/ that you’ve been dreaming of/ Leads you to a lonely place/ Find your strength in love.”