AceShowbiz - George David Weiss, the man behind classic tunes "What a Wonderful World" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" has died at his home in New Jersey. He was 89. The songwriter also penned "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for The Tokens with Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore.

His other credits include "Confess", which was recorded by Patti Page, Perry Como's "Surrender" and Sammy Davis, Jr.'s 1946 hit "Mr. Wonderful". Weiss was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984.

A former president of the Songwriters Guild of America, Weiss, was born in Manhattan in 1921 and fought his family over his passion for music - his mother wanted her son to become a lawyer. He graduated from the Julliard School in New York with a degree in music and went on to serve as a military bandleader in World War II before becoming a full-time songwriter.