The sound of music

Folks if you are anything like me, songs keep popping into your mind. For me these are tunes of yesteryear and bring back fond memories of the days of my youth.

Now I realize that each generation has its songs. I also know that I am prejudice. Be that as it may I cannot help feeling sorry for younger generations who may not have had all the memorable songs that touched our hearts and souls. Following are some of the bands and singers that played and sang their way into our hearts.

To get you In the Mood, what about the Glenn Miller Band? Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Horace Heidt, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ted Lewis, Les Brown, Lawrence Welk, Clyde McCoy, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Harry James, Phil Harris and Spike Jones. There were special groups of singers, such as the Modernaires, the Chordettes, the Andrew Sisters, the Ink Spots and the Mills Bros. I hope I didn’t leave out some of your favorites.

Now to the singers and their special songs that melted our hearts and stirred our souls. Tony Bennett’s rendition of ‘I left my heart In San Francisco’, Judy Garland’s ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, Kate Smith’s ‘God Bless America’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’. The feeling of hope we received during WW II, from the songs, ‘There Will Be Blue Birds Over The White Cliffs of Dover’ and ‘When The Lights Come On Again All Over The World!’

We also got a big laugh out of Spike Jones and his defiant spoof of Adolph Hitler in the song, ‘Right in the Fuehrer’s Face’. Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas,’ Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York New York’ and for Betty and me his rendition of ‘There Are Such Things’. (That was and still is our song!) How I loved to see the Harlem Globetrotters come trotting onto the basketball court to the strains of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown.’

I often catch myself humming or singing many songs of my youth. However I am aware that we all come from different backgrounds and your musical memories may differ. Also I haven’t even mentioned the many religious songs that we cherish and love. Nevertheless I hope I have jogged your musical memories and you go around whistling and singing a happy tune!

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