Smith died in 1986 at age 79. Her version of “God Bless America” became a good-luck charm for the Flyers, and she performed it ahead of the team’s first Stanley Cup win. Her statue was placed outside the Spectrum in 1987 and moved to outside Xfinity Live! after the Spectrum was demolished in 2011.
Who was Kate Smith married to?
Her weight dwindled to about 140 pounds, relatives took over her business affairs (and then quarreled in the courts over control of her estate). Miss Smith, who never married, moved to Raleigh in 1979 but made a special appearance—with Bob Hope pushing her wheelchair—at the 1982 Emmy awards ceremony.
What was Kate Smith’s real name?
Kate Smith, byname of Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, (born May 1, 1909, Greenville, Va., U.S.—died June 17, 1986, Raleigh, N.C.), American singer on radio and television, long known as the “first lady of radio.”
Who is most famous for singing God Bless America?
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 14 |
Who sang for Philadelphia Flyers?
Kate Smith | |
---|---|
Smith in 1943 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Kathryn Elizabeth Smith |
Born | May 1, 1907 Greenville, Virginia, U.S. |
WHO has recorded God Bless the Child?
“God Bless the Child” | |
---|---|
Single by Billie Holiday | |
Length | 2:57 |
Label | Okeh |
Songwriter(s) | Billie Holiday Arthur Herzog Jr. |
When did Kate Smith first song God Bless America?
As is befitting, the first time “God Bless America” was ever heard nationally it was sung by Smith. This occurred on November 11, 1938 over Kate Smith’s CBS radio show, “The Kate Smith Hour.” From that first occurrence, Smith seemed to know that this tune was special.
When was Kate Smith born?
Singing patriot Kate Smith was born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith on May 1, 1907. As a child she showed a devoted interest toward singing and dancing, initially appearing in jazz nightclubs before opting for a standard music career.
Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?
This 15-star flag, the Star-Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key’s poem, has been carefully preserved. Today it hangs in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Francis Scott Key penned four verses to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Only the first verse is sung at most occasions.
Why is God Bless America not the national anthem?
“It’s not a patriotic song,” composer Irving Berlin said in a 1940 interview, “but an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” Today, many Americans consider “God Bless America” an unofficial national anthem of the United States. …
Do you put your hand over your heart for God Bless America?
As citizens, our US Federal Statute (36 U.S. Code § 301 – National Anthem) says we should face the flag (or face toward the music if there is no flag) and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart.
Why was the Kate Smith statue taken down?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. On April 21, 2019, the statue was removed due to the Flyers denouncing music performed by Smith. … Some of her other recordings had racist lyrics and the Flyers did not want to promote Kate Smith’s legacy due to this fact.
Do the Philadelphia Flyers still play God Bless America?
Flyers will still use ‘God Bless America‘ for important games, but it will sound different. Lauren Hart will sing in place of Kate Smith’s recorded version.
Did Kate Smith sing God Bless America?
God Bless America Sung by Kate Smith – This is the Army 1943 HD – YouTube.
Why did Billie Holiday write God Bless the Child?
This was written by Billie Holiday with her frequent collaborator Arthur Herzog in 1941. She wrote the lyrics after an argument with her mother, Sadie, over financial matters. … Holiday opens the song with her own interpretation of a biblical observation: “Them whose got shall get, them whose not shall lose.
Why was God Bless America written?
Song-Collection God Bless America. … In the fall of 1938, as fascism and war threatened Europe, Irving Berlin decided to write a peace song. He recalled an unpublished version of a song that he had set aside in a trunk, took it out and shaped it into a second national anthem, “God Bless America.”
Why does God Bless America?
When people say “God Bless America” they are invoking the blessings of a all mighty powerful god to flood into the country and make the country prosperous. Usually, this god can be seen as a Protestant Christian God.
When was Irving Berlin born?
American musical theater composer Irving Berlin was born Israel Baline, in eastern Russia on May 11, 1888, the youngest of six children of Jewish cantor, Moses Baline, who brought his family to New York in 1893.
Who wrote the song God Bless America?
Berlin, born Israel Baline, was 5 years old when his family arrived in the United States, having fled anti-Semitic persecution in Russia. He became a citizen in 1918, the same year he started his military career and wrote “God Bless America.”
What is the difference between the national anthem and The Star-Spangled Banner?
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. … This setting, renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner”, soon became a well-known U.S. patriotic song. With a range of 19 semitones, it is known for being very difficult to sing. Although the poem has four stanzas, only the first is commonly sung today.
Which song is also known as My Country Tis of Thee?
The words for the song “America” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) were written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, but the melody is much older and has been used for songs in many countries. It was first sung in public on July 4, 1831, at a children’s concert at the Park Street Church, Boston, and published in 1832.
Was America the Beautiful written on Pikes Peak?
Katharine Lee Bates stood on the top of Pikes Peak for just 30 minutes in the summer of 1893, but that was all the inspiration she needed to write a patriotic poem called, “America.”
Is kneeling during the national anthem disrespectful?
“We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.” Some regard kneeling as disrespectful to those who have died or been wounded in service of the United States, such as police officers or military veterans.
Is the story of The Star-Spangled Banner true?
On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defence of Fort M’Henry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812.
Why is The Star-Spangled Banner so important?
During the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the nation’s best-loved patriotic songs. It gained special significance during the Civil War, a time when many Americans turned to music to express their feelings for the flag and the ideals and values it represented.