Song Story: Dance by the Light of the Moon

Dance by the Light of the Moon was written and performed by the American doo-wop group, The Olympics. The group released the song in 1960 and it topped the charts at #47. This doesn’t seem to be as well a known song as Fly Me to the Moon, Moon River, Blue Moon, Moonlight Bay, By Read More

Song Story: Blue Moon

Blue Moon was written by the popular songwriting duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. The duo was contracted in May 1933 by MGM to write songs for an upcoming movie called Hollywood Party.  Richard Rodgers later recalled, “One of our ideas was to include a scene in which Jean Harlow is shown as Read More

Song Story: Moonlight Becomes You

Moonlight Becomes You was composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and the lyrics were written by Johnny Burke. The song was originally written for the Bing Crosby and Bob Hope movie Road to Morocco in 1942. In the film, Crosby serenades the princess underneath the palace balcony.  The song is reprised throughout the film to provide Read More

Song Story: Fly Me to the Moon

Close your eyes and it’s not hard to hear Frank Sinatra singing, Fly Me to the Moon. Fly Me to the Moon was originally titled In Other Words. The song was written by Bart Howard in 1954.  Later that year, Kaye Ballard made the first recording of the song. Howard, who had been pursuing music Read More

Song Story: Au Clair de Lune

The title means “By the Light of the Moon”.  The song was written by French composer Claude Debussy. The songs originate from his Suite bergamasque piano suites written around 1890.  They were not published until around 1905.  Today, Claire de Lune is the most popular of these piano suites. Another title is Au Claire de Lune, Read More

Song Story: Mr. Moonlight

Mr. Moonlight is a song recorded by the Beatles. This is not one of their better received songs. The original version was released by a Blues group called Dr. Feelgood and The Interns in 1962. The song was written by Roy Lee Johnson, a guitarist with The Interns.

Song Story: Moonlight in Vermont

Moonlight in Vermont is a popular song about the state of Vermont. The song was published in 1944 by John Blackburn {wrote lyrics} and Karl Suessdorf {wrote music}. Margaret Whiting introduced the song in 1944. John Blackburn, the lyricist, has been quoted as saying, “After completing the first 12 bars of the lyric, I realized Read More

Song Story: Moonlight Sonata

Beethoven’s The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia”, Op. 27, No. 2 is popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata. Ludwig Van Beethoven, the popular Classical/Romantic era composer, completed the piece in 1801. In 1802, he dedicated the piece to his pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. Guicciardi was an Austrian countess.  Beethoven became Read More

Song Story: Moonlight Mood

Moonlight Mood is another song on Moonlight Sinatra.  There is also a song known as In a Moonlight Mood, but I’ve not been able to conclusively determine if they are the same song or not.  The song was written by Peter De Rose and Harold Adamson. Sony Music published the song in 1942. Sinatra recorded Read More