American Soldier

American Soldier was co-written and recorded by country music artist Toby Keith. He wrote the song with Chuck Cannon. Keith said the  song was written “for all the times that I get to meet the troops on these USO tours, and since Courtesy of Red, White, and Blue, the P.O.W.s and the families that have Read More

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was a song made popular by the Andrews Sisters during World War II. The song was written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince. The Andrews Sisters first performed the song in the 1941 Abbott and Costello movie “Buck Privates”.  The song was nominated that year for the Academy Award for Best Read More

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was a popular tune during World War II.  The song was a major hit for The Andrews Sisters. The song is extremely upbeat in tempo for a war song. Don Raye and Hughie Prince wrote the song.  “The song is closely based on an earlier Raye-Prince hit, “Beat Me Daddy, Eight Read More

Patriotic Songs: Stars and Stripes Forever

“The Stars and Stripes Forever” is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa.  Sousa is considered America’s “March King”. “In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on [Christmas Day], 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from Read More

Song Story: Over There

Over There was written by George M. Cohan in 1917, during the height of World War I.  The song became an instant hit. The song reflected Americans’ expectations that the war would be short.  It was a patriotic song designed to galvanize American young men to enlist in the army and fight the “Hun”. The Read More

Patriotic songs: This is My Country

This is My Country is a popular patriotic song for both the native born and the immigrant. The song was composed in 1940 by the songwriting duo Don Raye {born Don Raye Wilhoite, Jr.} and Al Jacobs. Don Raye Wilhoite, Jr. was born on March 16, 1909 in Washington, D.C.  He changed his name to Read More

Song Story: This Land is Your Land

In honor of the Fourth of July, I thought we’d look at a popular Patriotic song, This Land is Your Land. The American folk song was written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie.  During this time he hitchhiked from Los Angeles to New York City and continuously heard God Bless America played on the radio and Read More

You’re a Grand Old Flag

You’re a Grand Old Flag is a popular song written by George M. Cohan. The song was published in 1906 and first performed on the stage on February 6.  Cohan wrote the song for his musical George Washington, Jr.  The song was first performed on the opening night of the play at Herald Square Theater Read More

Taps

Taps is a haunting bugle call that is played at military funerals. During the American Civil War, three slow drum beats were struck at the end of the Tattoo to extinguish the lights.  A military Tattoo was originally a form of military music.  Today it has evolved to shows involving theatrics and musical performances.  The Read More

Behind the Song: Yankee Doodle Dandy

We just celebrated the 4th of July over the weekend.  Today I want to share the story behind one of our patriotic songs, Yankee Doodle Dandy. We all think about the Revolutionary War when we hear the song, however, the folk song dates back to even before the Revolutionary War. Yankee Doodle Dandy dates back Read More