Crying in the Chapel

Crying in the Chapel was one of Elvis Presley’s hit songs.  However, it was written by Artie Glenn. Artie Glenn wrote it for his son, Darrell, who recorded the song in 1953.  The high schooler recorded the song with his group, The Rhythm Riders. After being rejected by several publishing companies, the song was published Read More

Carrie Jacobs-Bond Triumphed over Tragedy

We recently looked at the song I Love You Truly.  However, the author has an interesting life worth reviewing in her own right.   Carrie was born on August 11, 1862, during the midst of the Civil War.  She was born in a brick house in Janesville, Wisconsin. By a young age she could pick Read More

I Love You Truly

I Love You Truly is a popular love song with the senior adult population I work with. This song was a parlor song published in 1901.  This musical composition was written by Carrie Jacobs-Bond. Bond’s husband, Frank, died in 1895.  While on a trip to her hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin she wrote I Love You Read More

Younger than Springtime

With the approach of spring, the song Younger Than Springtime came to mind. This song is a Rodgers and Hammerstein song that was written for their musical, South Pacific. The song is performed in the first act by Lieutenant Cable when he makes love to his adored Liat, to whom he was only recently introduced Read More

To Know Him is to Love Him

One of the interesting things about the history of songs, is discovering what inspired the lyrics and/or melody of the song. For To Know Him is to Love Him, that inspiration was a tombstone.  Phil Spector was nine years old when his father died.  His family then moved from New York to Los Angeles.   As 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

Behind the Song: I Will Always Love You

I Will Always Love You was a signature song for Whitney Houston, after she performed the song in her movie, The Bodyguard. However, the song was written by another big known star, Dolly Parton.  This would become the biggest song of her career as both a performer and songwriter. The song was the second single Read More

Profile of a Performer: Elvis Presley– The Comeback King

In remembrance of the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, we will finish his profile this week. We’ve already discussed the younger years and his return from the Army. After a decade in films, Elvis Presley was considered a joke by both fans and critics. Now, it was time for some damage control. Colonel Parker made Read More

Profile of a Performer: Elvis is Back!

    After serving two years in the Army, the time had come for Elvis to return to his public.  Would he be able to make the comeback he hoped for? Elvis returned to the United States and was honorably discharged in early March 1960. Less than three weeks later he was in the recording Read More

Profile of a Performer: The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees were a group that comprised of three brothers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.  Robin and Maurice are fraternal twins. The group is recognized for their three part harmonies.  The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man, England.  The family lived in various parts of England before relocating to Queensland, Australia Read More