<P> `` Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart '' is a song that was composed in Brooklyn New York in 1964 by Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn in response to a request by United Artists Music who was looking for songs for British duo Chad & Jeremy . Going for a British sound , Bergen started with a chord progression based on The Beatles ' `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' and Coburn added a lyric . The writers did not receive the usual $25 or $50 advance , but the company did pay for a one - hour demo recording which took place with studio players including Frank Owens ( piano ) and Kenny Karen ( vocals ) . The session ended early so producer Ken Lauber spent the final ten minutes changing the original uptempo concept to a ballad approach . He asked Karen to do his best Jerry Butler impression , and asked Owens to play the way he had on the Dionne Warwick records ( that piano part is still copied today on many of the newer versions of the song . ) The next day , at Coburn 's suggestion , the writers took the demo to Hy Weiss at Old Town Records for jazz singer Arthur Prysock. Old Town used the demo track , added Prysock 's vocal plus strings arranged by Mort Garson , and it became the next single . </P>
<P> `` Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart '' is a song that was composed in Brooklyn New York in 1964 by Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn in response to a request by United Artists Music who was looking for songs for British duo Chad & Jeremy . Going for a British sound , Bergen started with a chord progression based on The Beatles ' `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' and Coburn added a lyric . The writers did not receive the usual $25 or $50 advance , but the company did pay for a one - hour demo recording which took place with studio players including Frank Owens ( piano ) and Kenny Karen ( vocals ) . The session ended early so producer Ken Lauber spent the final ten minutes changing the original uptempo concept to a ballad approach . He asked Karen to do his best Jerry Butler impression , and asked Owens to play the way he had on the Dionne Warwick records ( that piano part is still copied today on many of the newer versions of the song . ) The next day , at Coburn 's suggestion , the writers took the demo to Hy Weiss at Old Town Records for jazz singer Arthur Prysock. Old Town used the demo track , added Prysock 's vocal plus strings arranged by Mort Garson , and it became the next single . </P>
who is the original singer of only a fool breaks his own heart
who is the original singer of only a fool breaks his own heart
Kenny Karen
Kenny Karen