Showboat

The musical theater in the 1920s was comparable to Vaudeville with comedic routines and sideshow attractions. However, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II had an idea for a revolutionary new approach. Now the daunting task of choosing their work.  They decided on Edna Ferber’s novel, Showboat.  This was a most unconventional topic and she was skeptical Read More

Profile of a Composer: John Rutter

I was introduced to Rutter when I was in college.  I grew to absolutely adore several of his choral arrangements and have both sung them in the choir and conducted them over the years. John Rutter was born in 1945 London, England.  He studied at Clare College in Cambridge, England. He currently resides in Cambridgeshire, Read More

That’ll Be the Day

Buddy Holly longed to write a hit and make it big in the music industry.  One evening he and his band mate, Jerry Allison, decided to see a John Wayne western, The Searchers. Wayne keeps repeating “That’ll be the day,” when he felt something was unlikely to happen. The phrase stuck and one evening while Read More

Till There Was You

Meredith Wilson wrote the song for his 1957 musical, The Music Man.  In the musical, the librarian, Marion Paroo, sings the song to Professor Harold Hill near the end of Act II. The first release of the song appeared before the first cast album was release in November 1957.  The Broadway production of The Music Read More

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! transformed the world of musical theater in more ways than one. Richard Rodgers was interested in adapting the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs into a piece for musical theater.  However, his writing partner Lorenz Hart had no interest in the project. Oscar Hammerstein II expressed interest, but his writing partner Read More

Down in the Valley

Down in the Valley is a popular request when I go to nursing facilities to perform. This folk song is believed to be an Appalachian Mountain song inspired by a British air.  The song was later transported to the Ozark’s. The ballad is set to a sweet and serene tune, however upon really noticing the Read More

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

Profile of a Composer: Rodgers & Hammerstein

Rodgers and Hammerstein gave us many wonderful songs including, “Shall We Dance,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” and “Younger Than Springtime.”  They also wrote the songs to The Sound of Music, including My Favorite Things and Edelweiss. The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein consist of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, both Read More

Profile of a Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II was the other half of the duo that brought The Sound of Music to life.  His lyrics beautifully matched the melodies of Richard Rodgers. Hammerstein was born on July 12, 1895, in New York City.  His grandfather was the theatre producer of the early 20th Century, Oscar Hammerstein I. The longing to Read More

Profile of a Composer: Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers is behind the melodies we all lovingly sing from The Sound of Music and numerous other musicals. In fact he composed over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals. He was born on June 28, 1902 in New York City.  He began playing the piano when he was six years old and was composing Read More