With the arrival of spring, comes a spring in the step and a song in the heart. Everyone enjoys that beautiful feeling. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! Oklahoma! was the first collaboration and hit for composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Oklahoma! on the Broadway Read More
Category: Story behind the Song
Lullaby of Broadway
Lullaby of Broadway was a popular Doris Day song in the 1950s. However, it was first published in 1935. The words were written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Al Dubin. The song was written for Gold Diggers of 1935, a musical film. The song was also used that same year as background music Read More
It Might As Well Be Spring
Spring time is in the air and we are restless and jumpy knowing it’s springtime. The song It Might As Well be Spring was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for their musical State Fair. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945, the year it was written. State Read More
April in Paris
The term April in Paris originated with the Broadway song. The song was composed in 1932, by Vernon Duke {music} and E. Y. Harbug {lyrics}. April in Paris first premiered in that year’s play, Walk a Little Faster. The following year, Freddy Martin recorded the song. Almost two decades later, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, recorded the Read More
Beautiful Ohio
Beautiful Ohio was written by Ballard MacDonald in 1918. The music was written by Robert A. “Bobo” King, who used the pseudonym Mary Earl. MacDonald wrote the song as a love song, in the form of a waltz. The melody is partly based on “Song of India” by Rimsky-Korsakov and “Beautiful Dreamer” by Stephen Read More
On Moonlight Bay
On Moonlight Bay is a popular song of the 20th Century. The best known version is the one by Doris Day. The song was first published in 1912. The lyrics were written by Edward Madden, an American lyricist who wrote songs such as What Could Be Sweeter? And Red Rose Rag. The composer was Percy Read More
What a Wonderful World
With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought What a Wonderful World would be a great song to discuss this week. Louis Armstrong recorded this song by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss in 1967. He was only paid $250 for the original recording. He accepted the spec payment to ensure the orchestra would also be paid. Read More
A Perfect Day
A Perfect Day was written by Carrie Smith-Bond, also known as the author of I Love You Truly. A Perfect Day was another hit for Bond. The story of A Perfect Day is interesting. While traveling in California around 1909, Carrie stopped by at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. In her own words: “..while dressing for Read More
Jingle Bells
Although we now sing Jingle Bells at Christmas time, the song was originally written for another holiday, Thanksgiving. Legend says that the author wrote the song for a children’s Sunday School Class at Thanksgiving. The poem was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857 under the title One Horse Open Sleigh. The song Read More
Thanksgiving Prayer
We have many older Thanksgiving hymns, but not as many newer Thanksgiving songs. Johnny Cash sang this song on an episode in the third season of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. This was a television show starring Jane Seymour and Joe Lando that aired during the 1990s. However, the storyline occurred in the 19th Century. Cash Read More