Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A Song Worth Listening To

Kate Smith singing God Bless America
I couldn't resist posting this. Received it in an email.

The story behind this song:
In early 1940, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio,
was deeply worried  about her country.  She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a
song that would reignite the spirit of American  patriotism and faith.  He said he had a
song that he had written in 1917, but never used it.  He said she  could have it.

Kate sat at the piano & played it and realized how good it was.  She called Mr. Berlin
and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing.  So, they agreed that
any money that would be  made off the song would be donated to the
Boy Scouts of America.  Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the  Scouts have
received millions of dollars in royalties.

This clip is from the movie "You're in the Army  Now".  You will see a familiar face in
this--one that we are all very proud of.  Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith,
whom he considered the greatest singer of his age, first sang this song on the radio,
a  million guys got 'dust' in their eyes and had  you wipe the tears the 'dust' caused.  
If you can watch and listen without 'dust' getting in your eyes, you have no soul.
Sit back and enjoy a Real Star.


4 comments:

Laura Reeves said...

I loved this thank you for posting it Elaine. The story behind the song is so interesting I never knew all that!

Unknown said...

You are welcome, Laura. I thought the story behind the song was interesting.

Wayne Parks Sr said...

Thank you Elaine. What a great story. To me there is nothing like the old movies and radio shows. I did not know that about the song and how they contributed the royalties to the Boy Scouts. Did I see Ronald Reagan there at the end?
God Bless america!!!

Unknown said...

Wayne, thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. You are right, that is Reagan at the end of the video. I hadn't caught that until you mentioned it.