Last Waltz’s songwriter dies aged 85

MUSIC great Barry Mason, who wrote The Last Waltz and Delilah, has died at 85.

The five-time Ivor Novello winner penned 11,000 songs, including hits for Rod Stewart, Elvis Presley and The Drifters.

Engelbert Humperdinck had five weeks at No1 with The Last Waltz.

The following year, in 1968, Delilah was a huge hit for Tom Jones.

Mason also had the first No1 of the 1970s with Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) recorded by Edison Lighthouse.

He was awarded an MBE for his services to music in 2020. Lyricist Sir Tim Rice called Mason’s passing “very sad”.