Kamahl talked about being the first to record the song in an appearance on Australian TV show Spicks and Specks, but stated it was not commercially released because it was felt he did not suit the country and western style.
The song appeared shortly thereafter in charted versions by Colleen Hewett (1982), Lou Rawls (1983), Gladys Knight & the Pips (1983), and Gary Morris (1983).
The highest-charting version of the song to date was recorded in 1988 by singer and actress Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film Beaches.
On October 24, 1991, Midler's single was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of one million copies in the United States.
In a 2002 UK poll, "Wind Beneath My Wings" was found to be the most-played song at British funerals.
[4] Silbar and Henley recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery.
Hewitt's recording became the first version of the song to be issued as a single and to appear on a national chart, peaking at No.
The first year "Wind Beneath My Wings" appeared on music industry trade publication charts in the United States was 1983.
Singer Lou Rawls was the first to score a major hit with the song, as his version peaked at No.
[17] Rawls once performed a twelve-minute live version of the song at a concert in Elgin, Illinois.
Midler performed the song with the fictional character Krusty the Clown on season 4 episode 22 of The Simpsons in 1993.
In the days following the September 11 attacks in 2001, she performed the song live at the Prayer for America memorial service held at Yankee Stadium.
[26] In his review of the Beaches soundtrack, Stephen Holden from The New York Times remarked that "one is reminded of just how powerful a pop singer Ms. Midler can be when handed the right song and an arrangement that doesn't constrict her brash, larger-than-life personality."
He added that "the most effective numbers are dramatic ballads" like "Wind Beneath My Wings".
[27] A reviewer from People Magazine wrote that the song "articulates the movie's theme of enduring friendship, and Midler's heartfelt delivery conveys the message a lot more succinctly and satisfyingly than the film.
"[28] British The Stage noted that the song, "a cabaret favourite for several years now", has been "given a new lease of life because it has been recorded by Bette Midler.
"[29] John Louie from The Stanford Daily called it a "sweet, melodious ballad".
The girls dance on the beach until the dark-haired finds a long stick, which she writes in the sand with.
40 on the UK Singles Chart,[60] while Steven Houghton's version, from his self-titled debut album, reached No.
Idina Menzel sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" as a duet with Kristen Bell at her successful audition for the 2013 film Frozen.