Here’s a few examples from our latest newsletter.
Did You Know? — Originally written to honor America’s military serving far from home, the beautiful song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” has become a favorite for many generations now. However, the song’s final phrase (“if only in my dreams”) was considered too sad and no one in the business wanted to record it. But when songwriter Kim Gannon sang the song for Bing Crosby (while they were playing golf), Bing loved it and promised to make it a hit. And, of course, he did. By the way, the song on the flip side of that Decca record was a lovely but sad song too – “Danny Boy.”
Did You Know? — In 1957 Elvis Presley made “Blue Christmas” into a hit on the pop charts. However, it had been taken to #1 once before. And that was on the Country charts in 1950. The singer? None other than Ernest Tubb!
The Music Man’s Christmas Song — Meredith Wilson is best remembered for his hit musical The Music Man. But he also wrote other stuff including one of the most famous Christmas songs of all time. In 1963, the song was incorporated into his musical, Here's Love which was based on the classic holiday film Miracle on 34th Street. Unfortunately, the play bombed. But the song, already very popular from recordings by Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and many others is going strong to this day. That song? You know it well -- “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
If you'd like to check out the whole 4-page, big print newsletter, you'll find it right here.
