American Soldier was co-written and recorded by country music artist Toby Keith. He wrote the song with Chuck Cannon. Keith said the song was written “for all the times that I get to meet the troops on these USO tours, and since Courtesy of Red, White, and Blue, the P.O.W.s and the families that have Read More
Tag: patriotic songs
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was a song made popular by the Andrews Sisters during World War II. The song was written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince. The Andrews Sisters first performed the song in the 1941 Abbott and Costello movie “Buck Privates”. The song was nominated that year for the Academy Award for Best Read More
Patriotic Songs: Stars and Stripes Forever
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. Sousa is considered America’s “March King”. “In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on [Christmas Day], 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from Read More
Song Story: Over There
Over There was written by George M. Cohan in 1917, during the height of World War I. The song became an instant hit. The song reflected Americans’ expectations that the war would be short. It was a patriotic song designed to galvanize American young men to enlist in the army and fight the “Hun”. The Read More
Patriotic songs: This is My Country
This is My Country is a popular patriotic song for both the native born and the immigrant. The song was composed in 1940 by the songwriting duo Don Raye {born Don Raye Wilhoite, Jr.} and Al Jacobs. Don Raye Wilhoite, Jr. was born on March 16, 1909 in Washington, D.C. He changed his name to Read More
Behind the Song: Yankee Doodle Dandy
We just celebrated the 4th of July over the weekend. Today I want to share the story behind one of our patriotic songs, Yankee Doodle Dandy. We all think about the Revolutionary War when we hear the song, however, the folk song dates back to even before the Revolutionary War. Yankee Doodle Dandy dates back Read More