"What time is it, kids?"
"It's Howdy Doody time!"
If you can sing at least the first two lines of the theme song that comes next . . . then you are in the proper age group to help me with my next book!
I usually don't tell anyone what music I'm working on, because I get tired of people bugging me, asking when the music will be finished. But if you promise not to bug me, I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm currently working on a book of songs from the 1950s. Since some of the aging baby boomers are starting to enter senior living facilities, harpist who play at these locations are getting lots of requests for songs from this era. Many harpists use my
Groovy Songs of the 60s book, but they also want some "older" hits.
So far I've finished about 20 arrangements. Here's a list of the songs I've completed or am considering. Not all of them will make it into the collection, due to copyright issues, or just general "harpability" as I work on the arrangements. The artists listed below after the titles are generally the singers who made the songs popular.
26 Miles (Santa Catalina) - The Four Preps
All I Have to Do is Dream - Everly Brothers
Banana Boat Song (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte
Bonanza - theme from the TV show
Casper the Friendly Ghost - theme from the TV show
Dennis the Menace - theme from the TV show
Donna - Ritchie Valens
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
Earth Angel - The Penguins
Edelweiss - from The Sound of Music
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
Getting to Know You - from The King and I
Goodnight, My Someone - from The Music Man
Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight - The Spaniels
Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom) - Perry Como
It's Howdy Doody Time - theme from the TV show
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) - The Tokens
Lollipop - The Chordettes
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
Magic Moments - Perry Como
Memories are Made of This - Dean Martin
One Hand, One Heart - from West Side Story
Put Your Head on My Shoulder - Paul Anka
Silhouettes - The Tokens
Singin' in the Rain - Gene Kelly
Tears on My Pillow - Little Anthony
Teddy Bear (Let Me Be Your) - Elvis Presley
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
Tequilla - The Champs
'Til I Kissed You - Everly Brothers
Twelfth of Never - Johnny Mathis, Elvis, and more
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Venus - Frankie Avalon
Wells Fargo Wagon - from The Music Man
Witch Doctor - David Seville
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
Here's where you come in.
What are your favorite 50's songs?
Email your suggestions to
sylvia@harpcenter.com, and I'll consider adding them to this fun collection. I make no promises, but you might get lucky! Please
email me directly using "1950" as the email subject. Please
do not reply to this newsletter. That makes my life MUCH easier.