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"Happy Birthday"
This song comes from a teacher, Patty J. Hill, who song a similar song to her kindergarden classroom. The students used her melody and sung "Happy Birthday" to friends and family. Many people edited and published different songs with the melody of "Happy Birthday". Copyright of the song was passed by many companies, but the current owner is Time Warner. They will own copyright of this song until 2030. -
"I Love A Lassie"
Harry Lauder wrote this song in 1905 after his success the Howard & Wyndham pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow. This made him a star. He began receiving contracts offers. Soon after, he began touring th U.S. and obtained $1,000 a night. He began Britian's best entertainer. -
"America the Beautiful"
The lyrics of "America the Beautiful" were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by Samuel A. Ward. The words written by Bates were meant to be a poem. The music Ward had written was meant to be a hymn, "O Mother dear, Jerusalem" in 1882. In 1910, the words and music came together to become "America the Beautiful". This song is now one of the most popular patriotic songs to be written. -
"That Haunting Melody "
Al Jolson was a comedian, singer, and actor. In the 30's he became the most popular and highest paid entertainer. People say he was to jazz as Elvis was to rock and roll. Jolson, at 35, became the youngest man in American history to have a theatre named after him. -
"It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary"
John McCormack was the first to record this famous World War I song. McCormack was a world famous tenor, meaning his voice was a classical singing voice, one of the highest for male singers. He was most famous for hid diction and outstanding breath control. -
"Tiger Rag"
The Origanal Dixieland Jass Band created the first jazz recordings in the early 1917. They sang the first jazz single ever. Later that year, the changed there name to The Original Dixieland JAZZ Band. "Tiger Rag" was one of their most popular songs. -
Whispering
Originally, this songs lyrics were written by John Schoenberger and Richard Coburn. Vincent Rose composed the music. Paul Whiteman recorded the song and it became most popular. It stayed on the charts for 20 weeks and over two million copies were sold. -
"It Had to Be You"
Isham Jones was a bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter. "It Had To Be You" was written by Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn. WHen it was released in 1924, it appeared later in films and many other artists recorded it as well. -
"I Wanna Be Loved By You"
This song became Helen Kane's signature song. She became known as "Boop-Boop-a-Dopp Girl". Two years after Kane became famous, Betty Boop was created, modeled after Kane. Betty Boop preforms this song in her animated film "The Romance of Bety Boop". -
"Puttin' on the Ritz"
This popular song was written and published in 1929 by Irving Berlin. Harry Richman introduced it in a musical "Puttin' on the Ritz" in 1930. The slang expression "putting on the Ritz" means to dress fashionably. This was inspired by the Ritz hotel, a 5-star hotel in London, England. -
"Winter Wonderland"
Written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith. Over time, this song had been recorded by over 150 artists. Recording was origanally by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra. -
"The Way You Look Tonight"
American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer, musician and actor. Fred Astaire earned those titles over a time of 76 years. Astaire was the origanal preformer of this song. It won the Academy Award for Best Origanal Song in 1936. This song was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics were written by Dorothy Fields. -
"White Christmas"
"White Christmas" sung by Bing Crosby is the best selling single of all time. About 50 million copies have been sold worldwide. His recording stayed on the charts for eleven weeks. The first public performance of the song was on Bing's NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall. This happened on Christmas Day 1941. -
"The Fat Man"
Fats Domino wrote "The Fat Man" along with Dave Bartholomew. This song is rhythm and blues and is considered one of the first rock and roll records. Domino sang and played piano during this song. Domino was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and Creole was his first language. He realesed five gold records before 1955. -
"Hey, Good Lookin'"
Hank WIlliams was born as Hiram Williams. He is known today as one of the most important country singers of all time. 35 of his singles made it to the top 10 of the Billboard Country and Western Best Sellers chart. -
"Hound Dog"
Known mostly just by his first name, Elvis Presley was a singer and actor. One of the greatest in the 20th century. He was also called "The King of Rock and Roll" or "The King". He bagan his carrer in 1954. He did not write "Hound Dog" but his version became more popular than the origanal. -
"She Loves You"
The Beatles were an English rock band that frmed in1960. They came together at Liverpool. They were the most succsessful act in the rock era. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr made up the band. Ten years after becoming a band, they broke up. Still today, they hold the record for most number one hits on the Hot 100 with 20 number one hits.
