I had a blog post at the end of last year entitled "Jewish Christmas Songs". I missed one.
Buck Ram (born Samuel Ram) was a Jewish producer, composer, arranger and manager. He is best remembered for his association with the Platters, who did not become successful until Ram became their manager. He wrote numerous hit songs for them, including "Great Pretender", "Magic Touch, "Only You", and "Twilight Time".
When Ram was 16, he wrote a poem that he entitled "I'll Be Home For Christmas". He wrote this poem for his mother while he was away at college, and left it with Walter Kent and James "Kim" Gannon. They later turned this into a song. Ram's name appeared on the credits when Bing Crosby recorded the song. Later credits omitted his name, but a lawsuit put his name back.
So why did a Jewish kid write a Christmas song for his mother? I haven't found the answer to that.
Walter Kent, incidentally, was also Jewish.
Wiki entry on Buck Ram
Answers.com entry on Buck Ram
Another great bio on Buck Ram
Wiki on The Platters
Wiki on "Only You"
Looking for karaoke in Milwaukee?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I'm sure my husband will love this comment (haha)...
Okay, so let's see, who what's the most famous Easter song (which is probably "Easter Parade")?
Wow, it's by someone Jewish--Irving Berlin.
Hey, isn't he the same guy who wrote "White Christmas"?
Yes, a Jewish guy.
Now, guess who wrote "Godspell" (a well known hit musical based on the Gospel of Matthew)?
Stephen Schwartz. What do you know? Another Jewish guy.
The supposedly most popular Christian spiritual, "Spirit in the Sky" was also written by a Jewish guy. Norman Greenbaum.
Then there's Jewish singers who sing Christian music. Okay, that's a little more understandable cause they know there's a big potential audience for the songs.
Take Barbra Streisand, for instance, who has a well known recording of "Ave Maria".
Or how about Barry Manilow, who recorded "Because It's Christmas" and "Christmas is Just Around the Corner"?
And Art Garfunkel, of all people, who recorded "Carol of the Bells" with
Amy Grant.
So why don't we just get to the real question--which is why are there so many talented Jews in show business, music industry, Hollywood, Broadway, etc? Like isn't practically everyone who's famous Jewish? lol
Post a Comment