Daily Sparkle CD - A Review of Famous Songs of the Past “Fascinating Facts” August 2018 Track 1 On Top of Old Smokey On Top of Old Smoky is a traditional folk song and a well-known ballad of the United States. Old Smoky may be a high mountain somewhere in the Ozarks or the central Appalachians, as the tune bears the stylistic hallmarks of the Scottish and Irish people who settled the region. Mitchell "Mitch" Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was prominent in the American music industry. Miller was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, working as a musician, singer, conductor, record producer and record company executive. Miller was one of the most influential people in American popular music during the 1950s and early 1960s, both as the head of A&R at Columbia Records and as a best-selling recording artist with an NBC television series, Sing Along with Mitch. Track 2 Island In The Sun A song comprised of traditional Jamaican music. Belafonte starred in a film of the same name in 1957. Harry Belafonte born Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. (born March 1, 1927) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing The Banana Boat Song, with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes and was a vocal critic of the policies of the George W. Bush Administration. From 1932 to 1940, he lived with his grandmother in her native country of Jamaica. In the 1940s he became interested in American Negro Theater. While primarily known for Calypso, Harry has recorded in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. As The Beatles and other stars from Britain began to dominate the U.S. pop charts, Harry's commercial success diminished. He supported the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s confidants. In 2001 he went to South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS. He was also active in the anti-apartheid movement. In January 2006 Harry said that if he could choose his epitaph it would be, "Harry Belafonte, Patriot." Track 3 Gorgonzola The score of "Oh! That Gorgonzola Cheese" was published in the 1920’s and featured in Howard & Co.'s Fifth Comic Annual, a collection of novelty and humorous songs. Fred W. Leigh composed the music. Champion himself wrote the lyrics. Walter Miller's recording career was limited to two songs. He was a singer around the Memphis area in the 1950’s occasionally playing with his band The Barons. Track 4 Beer Barrel Polka Beer Barrel Polka, also known as Roll Out the Barrel, is a song which became popular worldwide during World War II. The music was composed in 1927. The polka became famous around the world. The song was recorded and played by many others such as Andrews Sisters in 1939, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, and Billie Holiday. During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their alliances. The Andrews Sisters were a highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (1911 - 1967), soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews (1916 - 1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews (1918). Throughout their long career, the sisters sold well over 75 million records. Their 1941 hit Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues or jump blues. The Andrews Sisters' harmonies and songs are still influential today Track 5 Zip a Dee Doo Dah Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah is a song from the Disney 1946 live action and animated movie Song of the South, sung by James Baskett. "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. For many years the song was part of an opening theme medley for the Wonderful World of Disney television programme and it has often been used in other TV and video productions by the studio. It is one of many popular songs that features a bluebird ("Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder"), epitomized by the "Bluebird of Happiness," as a symbol of cheer. James Baskett (February 16, 1904 – July 9, 1948) was an American actor known for his portrayal of Uncle Remus, singing the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo- Dah" in the 1946 Disney feature film Song of the South. When Song of the South premiered in Atlanta, Georgia, Baskett was not allowed to attend the film's premiere because Atlanta was racially segregated by law. In recognition of his warm portrayal of the famous black storyteller he was given an Honorary Academy Award, making him the very first black man to receive an Oscar. Track 6 Big Spender Big Spender is a song written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the musical Sweet Charity, first performed in 1966. It is sung, in the musical, by the dance hostess girls. A hit version of the song by Shirley Bassey reached #21 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1967. This version featured in the film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. The song is one of Bassey's signature songs. She has performed it numerous times, most notably for the 80th birthday of Prince Philip. She also sang it at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival. Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey, DBE (born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. She was born above a brothel in a docklands slum in Tiger Bay Cardiff. She was of paternal Nigerian and maternal English descent. She found fame in the mid-1950s and has been called "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century". In the US, in particular, she is best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). Track 7 I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover is a song from 1927, written by Mort Dixon with music by Harry M. Woods. It was a hit for Art Mooney & His Orchestra in 1948 and was largely popularized by him. Mitchell "Mitch" Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was prominent in the American music industry. Miller was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, working as a musician, singer, conductor, record producer and record company executive. Miller was one of the most influential people in American popular music during the 1950s and early 1960s, both as the head of A&R at Columbia Records and as a best-selling recording artist with an NBC television series, Sing Along with Mitch. Track 8 Blueberry hill Blueberry Hill is a popular song published in 1940 best remembered for its 1950s rock n' roll version by Fats Domino. The song was Domino's greatest hit and remains the song most associated with him. Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino Jr. (born February 26, 1928) is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Domino was French Creole and Creole was his first language. Domino was delivered at home by his midwife grandmother. Like most families in the Lower Ninth Ward, Domino's family were new arrivals from Vacherie Louisiana. His father was a well known violinist, and Domino was inspired to play himself. Fats released five Gold (million selling) records before 1955. Domino also had 35 Top 40 American Hits and has a music style based on traditional R&B ensembles of Bass, Piano, Electric Guitar, Drums, and Saxophone. Track 9 Blue Moon Blue Moon is a classic popular song. It was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. In 1961 it became a doo-wop hit when recorded by The Marcels. The song has featured in musical films such as Grease. The lyric refers to an English expression, "once in a blue moon" which means "very rarely”. The Marcels were an American doo-wop group known for turning popular music songs into rock and roll. The group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was named after a popular hair style of the day, the marcel wave. In 1961 many were surprised to hear a new version of the ballad "Blue Moon", which began with the bass singer saying, "bomp-baba-bomp" and "dip-da-dip." The record sold over one million copies. In August 1961, due to problems encountered in the Deep South while touring because of the group being bi-racial, the white members, Knauss and Bricker left and were replaced by Allen Johnson (brother of Fred) and Walt Maddox. Track 10 The Happy Wanderer The Happy Wanderer is a popular song by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller written shortly after World War II. It is often mistaken for a German folk song, but it is actually an original composition. His sister Edith Möller conducted a small amateur children's and youth choir in Northern Germany. In 1953 a BBC radio broadcast of the choir's winning performance at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod turned the cheerful encore into an instant hit. Frank Weir (30 January 1911 - 12 May 1981) was a British orchestra leader and jazz musician. He reached Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1954 with Vera Lynn and the song "My Son, My Son".