"Rags to Riches" is a 1953 popular song by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Tony Bennett and reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1953. In the same year, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts. Later recordings by Sunny and the Sunliners (#45 in 1963) and Elvis Presley (#33 in 1971) also made the Billboard charts.
A recording by Lee Howard with orchestra cond. by Frank Cordell was made in London on November 14, 1953. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10610.
The song was used at the beginning of the film Goodfellas, where Henry Hill just closes the trunk of the car and says, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." The song was also used in an episode of Columbo.
"Rags to Riches" provided the basis for an unusual moment late in Elvis Presley's career. Near the end of a New Year's Eve concert on December 31, 1976/January 1, 1977, Elvis announced he would sing the song -- which his band evidently hadn't rehearsed and didn't know. Playing piano, and giving chord instructions to his surprised band members, Elvis delivered a passionate rendition, climaxing with a series of near-operatic high notes before the last word "you." The effort earned a loud ovation from the audience in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. However, the moment would never be repeated; this was the only time Elvis sang the song in live performance. The moment was captured on a recording by an audience member that was later bootlegged.
Famous quotes containing the words rags and/or riches:
“I fasted for some forty days on bread and buttermilk
For passing round the bottle with girls in rags or silk,
In country shawl or Paris cloak, had put my wits astray,
And what’s the good of women for all that they can say
Is fol de rol de rolly O.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“If Heaven had looked upon riches to be a valuable thing, it would not have given them to such a scoundrel.”
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)