MOON SONGS

MOON SONGS.
Steve Barkhurst, with his Yamaha keyboard, was here this afternoon to entertain us. He usually is scheduled on the first Thursday of the month, rather than on a Sunday afternoon. I had planned on watching the 49er - St. Louis Rams football game. I like music and I like sports. So, those associated genes had a tug of war, and my music genes pulled my sports genes over the neutral line.
Steve fills the hour with his great music and singing. He makes it more interesting by encouraging us to sing along with him on certain numbers.
Each month he chooses a theme. For October, he selected “Moon” songs because of the Harvest Moon occurring the last of this month. Steve said that there are more than 20,000 songs with “Moon” in the title, or in the words. I have listed Steve’s program, below:
He started off with “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” This is one of my favorite songs. It was written in 1933, when I was a sophomore on high school. Harold Arlen wrote the music and the lyrics were written by E.Y. Harburg and Billy Rose. The band played the song at all of our Berea High School dances, It brought back happy memories of Dody and I dancing cheek to cheek to the melody.
Next was “Carolina Moon.”. It was written by Joe Burke and Benny Davis in 1928. It has survived the challenge of time!
“Allegheny Moon” ,written Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. It was published in 1956. Patti Page was it’s most popular singer.
“By the Light of the Silvery Moon” - written by Gus Edwards and Edward Madden (lyrics), and published in 1909.
“I’m So Lonesome I could Cry”, written by Hank Williams with the lyrics by Marty Robbins. It was released on January 1, 1969.
“Moonlight Becomes You” was composed by Johnny Van Heusen, with the lyrics by Johnny Burke for the 1942 film, “Road to Morocco”;
“That’s Amore” was written in 1952 by Harry Warren, with the words by Jack Brooks. It was a hit by Dean Martin in 1953.
“Blue Moon” - Richard Rogers wrote the music and Lorenz Hart wrote the lyrics, in 1934. (This is another song that Dody and I l liked, and danced to.)
Then, Steve played and sang, “Don’t Fence Me In” The music is by Cole Porter and the lyrics by Robert Fletcher and Cole Porter. They wrote it in 1934. The last time that I heard this tune - before today- was on my trip to the Western Parks, recently. Our Tour Director played it on the bus’ sound system,
“Roll Out the Barrel” is also known as “The Beer Barrel Polka.” It was composed by a Czech musician in 1927. The song became very popular during WWII. The polka became famous around the world, with many different countries translating the words and making claims of authorship.
“Heart and Soul”, with the music written by Hoagy Carmichael, and the lyrics by Frank Loesser. The song was published in 1938. This is another one of my favorites. I was living in Ypsilanti, Michigan at the time, and driving to Ann Arbor to my job. I had a 1931 Ford Model A coupe. (Ibought it in 1937 for $165.00. I paid extra to have a radio installed. I heard this tune many times while driving to and from work. I worked at International Research in Ann Arbor. I was paid 25 cents an hour to help assemble Argus cameras and Kadette table radios. I worked nights ,Saturdays and Sundays at straight time. There was no overtime premium pay at that time.
“Moonlight Bay” - the music was written by Percy Wenrich, and the lyrics by Edward Madden. The song was published in 1912. “Moonlight Bay” was a popular song for Barbershop Quartets.
Then, Steve played a medley of songs: -
“Moonlight Sonata” (Beethoven);
“Fly Me to the Moon” was written and composed by Bart Howard. And first recorded in 1954.
“Moon River”. The music was composed by Henry Mancini, and the lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer, in 1961
“Moonglow” was first recorded in 1933. The music was written by Will Hudson, and the words by
Eddie Delange.
“How High the Moon” was published in 1940. The music was by Morgan Lewis and the words by Nancy Hamilton.
Steve continued, with ?Moonlight in Vermont“. This is a smooth song. It is the unofficial state song of Vermont - a very pretty state - especially in the Fall/Winter seasons. The song was written by John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf, and published in 1943. I was in North Africa at the time. It has been recorded by many musical artists.
Steve’s next to the last tune - dedicated to “Moons”, was the traditional “Shine on Harvest Moon”. The music was written by Nora Bayes and the lyrics by Jack Norworth. It was published over a 100 years ago, in 1908! A melody can’t be all bad when the first two lines of the second verse are:
“I can’t see why a boy should sigh, when by his side
Is the girl he loves so true,,,,,”
I always look forward to Steve signing off, by playing and singing, “All of Me.” Not because I am bored, but because it is one of my very favorite songs. “All of Me” is a catchy tune, and I find I’m humming it to myself afterwards! When I hear it, my foot starts tapping, and I wish that I was out on the dance floor with Marie.
The music was written by Gerald Marks, and the lyrics by Seymour Simons, in 1931. I was in the 8th grade, at St. Mary’s grade school in Berea, Ohio, at the time. The song has been recorded by many famous artists in the last 78 years. My favorite singer of it was Frank Sinatra.
The hour ended all too soon.
Ray L’Amoreaux 10/4/09.