Flower of Scotland

Flower of Scotland is a popular Scottish song often heard at special occasions and sporting events. This is also a popular song for the bagpipes. Flower of Scotland, along with Scots Wha Hae and Scotland the Brave, are considered unofficial national anthems of Scotland. Roy Williamson of the Corries wrote both the lyrics and music Read More

Scotland the Brave

Scotland the Brave is a Scottish patriotic song and considered one of the unofficial national anthems of Scotland, alongside Flower of Scotland and Scots Wha Hae. The earliest known version of the song appeared in 1911. The lyrics best known today were written by Cliff Hanley, a Scottish journalist, around 1950. He wrote the lyrics Read More

Scots Wha Hae

Scots Wha Hae is another patriotic song for Scotland.  The song usually comes in third after Scotland the Brave and Flower of Scotland. The lyrics were written in 1793 by the national Scottish poet, Robert Burns.  The poem is a speech given by Robert the Bruce before the Scots fight England in the Battle of Read More

The Irish Rover

“The Irish Rover” is an Irish folk song about an improbably, sailing ship which reaches an unfortunate end. The song describes “a gigantic twenty-seven masted ship with a colourful crew and varied types of cargo in enormous amounts.” Each verse builds from the previous verses, making the ship more extravagant and wonderous than the last Read More

Whiskey in the Jar-O

Whiskey in the Jar-O is a traditional Irish song set in the southern mountains of Ireland. The song is a traditional Irish and Scottish song. The song usually takes place in various Irish locales, especially Kerry, Cork and Lilmoganny.  Some performers use other locales, especially those in America. The song tells the story of a Read More

Profile of a Composer: George M. Cohan

George M. Cohan wrote some of the greatest standards we still sing today including  “Over There”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “The Yankee Doodle Boy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag”. Cohan published over 300 songs and was a founding member of ASCAP {American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers}. Known in the decade before Read More

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks.  Marks had already written other Christmas hits such as Holly Jolly Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  An instrumental version of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree appears on the TV special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which featured Marks music. The Read More

The Bells of St. Mary’s

  The Bells of St. Mary’s is best known for the beautiful Bing Crosby rendition.  However, Crosby revived a once popular song. The music was written by A. Emmett Adams and the lyrics by Douglas Furber.   The lyrics were inspired by a visit Furber made to St. Mary’s Church in Southampton, England. The song was Read More

Frank Sinatra—The Early Years

Frank Sinatra was the biggest star of his day.  He suffered numerous ups and downs throughout his career.   Yet, how did it all begin? Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915. From all accounts his birth was extremely traumatic and he almost did not survive.  He had a scar on his left ear, Read More

Louis Armstrong, The Jazz Master

Louis Armstrong was born August 4, 1901 in New Orleans.  He was born into a very poor family and the grandson of slaves.  He credited Joe “King” Oliver with teaching him to play the trumpet by ear.  By the age of eleven, he’d dropped out of school and was singing on the streets for money.  Read More