- Gene Raskin was a very accomplished person - first, an architect, then a professor at Columbia University, then, a "variety act" duo with his wife: "Gene & Francesca", and, most notably, but definitely not most fascinating; Gene adapted a melody sung to him as a child by his Russian mother: this became the folk-pop song, "Those Were the Days", recorded by Mary Hopkin and produced by Paul McCartney.
- IMDb mini biography by: Deborah Robins
- SpouseFrancesca Raskin(? - June 7, 2004) (his death, 2 children)
- Was an eclectic author, playwright, educator, musician and songwriter
- He was performing his languorous ballad, "Those Were the Days" in a nightclub when this adaptation of a Russian melody was overheard by Paul McCartney who brought it to England and produced the hit recording by Mary Hopkin. Gene was slightly chagrined to receive the telephone call from Paul asking his permission to have Mary record this; as, he had always imagined it being sung by a dashing young handsome romantic man...ME! Needless to say, he got over it!!!
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