littlebit

Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing "God Bless America" on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.

Here are the facts... The link at the bottom will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of "GOD BLESS AMERICA". But before you watch it, you should also know the story behind the first public showing of
the song.

The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we'd have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.

This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith.

Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings".

Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time.

Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring. She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote "White Christmas") and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her. He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before - way back in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America. Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.


This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, "You're In the Army Now." At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan.

To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry..... And for many generations of Americans to follow.

Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with” God Bless America ....." So here's the entire song as originally sung..... ENJOY!



http://www.youtube.com/embed/TnQDW-NMaRs?rel=0
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Kate Smith introduces God Bless America

Kate Smith introduces God Bless America

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

Thank you very much for posting this.

May GOD be with all of us REAL AMERICANS!

Idaho

Yes, I agree. My thanks as well!

If anyone is unsure whether or not they are really a patriot - if somewhere during this clip you teared up, then you are; if you didn't, then you probably aren't.

THSWarrior

:thumbup: :thumbup: Thanks for the positive reminder post

Kevyn

It is amazing to listen to her and compare God Bless America to the twangy tripe by Lee Greenwood or Brooks and Dunn that is passed off as patriotic music today.

Kevyn

Don't lie to us or yourself, your not and never have been a real American, you wouldn't recognize a real American if they were taking a dump on your chest. You are a "real lying donkey humped scumbag" always have been and will be until you draw your last breath. This country is too good for people like you.

Sons of Liberty Loc: look behind you!

I still have a lump in my throat.
GOD BLESS AMERICA indeed!

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Someone else posted this too awhile back and it is beautiful..She did an outstanding job..

Always nice to have a reminder of the days when~~~ :thumbup: :thumbup:

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Glad to have the presentation and information before the song itself. Kate had a beautiful voice and a powerful presentation.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

As usual, you post another crude statement, showing your total disdain for all that is good and pure, as well as anybody who doesn't feel just as you do.

PZG1225 Loc: Florida

Wow, someone bring the tissues! That was wonderful. Thanks for posting!!!

BearK Loc: TN

Let us also remember who the composer was, Irving Berlin, a Jew.

We owe much to the Jews, Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 850 individuals, of whom at least 170 individuals (20%) were Jews, although Jews comprise less than 0.2% of the world's population (or 1 in every 500 people).

As of 2015, twelve Nobel Prize winners have been Muslims. More than half of the twelve Muslim Nobel laureates were awarded the prize in the 21st century. Seven of the twelve winners have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, including a controversial award to Yasser Arafat, and we all know how peaceful he was. The recipient of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics, Abdus Salam, was a member of the Ahmadiyya community of Pakistan. Aziz Sancar is the second Turkish Nobel laureate and the first Muslim to be awarded Nobel prize in the field of molecular biology in 2015[citation needed].
Muslims make up over 23% of the world's population.

Obama, I would like you to name the Muslims who helped to settle this country, who fought in the Revolutionary War. You don't have any names, OH, just like Clinton can't tell the difference between Socialism and Progressivism!

BearK Loc: TN

Thank you for describing yourself, although stronger words would undoubtedly fit you more aptly.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

PZG1225 Loc: Florida

Amen! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: