Blueberry Hill

If you’ve ever seen Happy Days, you’ll probably remember Richie Cunningham singing “I found my thrill….” These are the opening lines to the 1940 hit Blueberry Hill. The tune to Blueberry Hill was written by Vincent Rose.  Rose, who was born in Italy, was a musician and bandleader.  He conducted the Montmartre Orchestra in the Read More

Behind the Song: Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer

Bob May had not lived an easy life.  As a child he was bullied and called names. Life seemed to be looking up when he graduated college in 1926, married his sweetheart and secured a job at Montgomery Ward, as a copywriter, during the years of the Great Depression.  Then the couple was blessed with Read More

Behind the Song: Here Comes Santa Claus

Here Comes Santa Claus was inspired by a Christmas parade. In 1946, the original singing cowboy, Gene Autry, was riding Champion, his horse, down Hollywood Boulevard in the annual Christmas parade. He was placed just a few spots ahead of Santa Claus.  He noticed that no one was paying any attention to him.  They were Read More

Profile of a Performer: Gene Autry

Gene Autry gained fame as a singing cowboy, when his career began in the 1930s. He was born Orvon Grover Autry on September 29, 1907 in north Texas.  He would work on his father’s ranch while he was still in school. After leaving school, his talents singing and playing the guitar led to the opportunity Read More