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Do You Know You Are My Sunshine

1940 vocal copyrighted and published past Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell

"You lot Are My Sunshine"
Single by Jimmie Davis with Charles Mitchell's Orchestra
B-side "Old Timer"
Published January 30, 1940 (1940-01-30), by Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc.[1]
Released March 25, 1940[2]
Recorded February 5, 1940[iii]
Studio Decca Recording, New York City
Genre Country
Length ii:47
Characterization Decca
Songwriter(southward) Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell

"You Are My Sunshine" is a song copyrighted and published by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell[4] [5] in 1940. Co-ordinate to BMI, it has been recorded by more than 350 artists, and translated into 30 languages.[vi] In 1977, the Louisiana Land Legislature decreed that "You Are My Sunshine" would be a land song, to honor two-time governor Jimmie Davis.[7]

Writing and recording [edit]

Earliest performances and recordings [edit]

"You lot Are My Sunshine"
Pine Ridge Boys - You Are My Sunshine 78 (Bluebird).jpg
Single past The Pine Ridge Boys
Released October half dozen, 1939 (1939-10-06) [viii]
Recorded August 22, 1939 (1939-08-22) [9]
Studio Atlanta, Georgia
Genre Hillbilly
Length 2:45
Label Bluebird B-8263
Songwriter(s) not listed

The Pine Ridge Boys recorded the song nether the title "You Are My Sunshine" on August 22, 1939, and released it on October 6 for Bluebird Records (Victor'southward upkeep label). "The Boys" (Marvin Taylor and Doug Spivey) were from Atlanta, which is where the recording was made.[10] No songwriter was listed.

The Rice Brothers' Gang recorded the song next for Decca, on September xiii, 1939,[11] and released it the post-obit month. This group was originally from Northern Georgia, but relocated to Shreveport, LA, where they performed on the radio station KWKH. The songwriter was listed as "Paul Rice".

Copyright and publication [edit]

On January 30, 1940, "You Are My Sunshine" was copyrighted by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell, and published past Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. of New York.[12] The pair recorded information technology on February v, 1940, at Decca Studios in New York.[13] Both received song-writing credit, and when the copyright was renewed on February ii, 1967, both names were on it.[14] Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. is even so run past the Peer Family, though BMI now lists it under American Performing Rights Guild, Inc., also known by its acronym, APRS, c/o Peermusic.[15] [16]

Claims of ownership [edit]

According to a November 1990 commodity past Theodore Pappas, in Chronicles Magazine, the true writer of the song was Oliver Hood of LaGrange, Georgia.[17] He asserts that Davis never really claimed authorship, because he bought the song, along with all the rights, from Paul Rice, before copyrighting and publishing, a do non uncommon in the pre-World War II music concern.[18] Though some early versions of the song credit the Rice Brothers, descendants and associates of Oliver Hood, a musician who collaborated with Rice, state that Hood wrote the song in the early on 1930s and first performed information technology in 1933, at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention at LaGrange.[eighteen]

A newspaper commodity in the Shreveport Times related: "on a 24-hour interval in 1939 - no one seems to remember the exact date - Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis chosen the station KWKH to see Paul Rice (who was playing there at the time). Paul'southward wife was in the infirmary and he needed greenbacks to pay her bills. He sold 'Sunshine' to Davis and Mitchell for $35. Each put in 17.50."[nineteen] Paul Rice said: "I wrote 'You Are my Sunshine' in 1937. Where I got the idea for it, a daughter over in South Carolina wrote me this long letter - information technology was long nearly seventeen pages. And she was talking about how I was her sunshine. I got the idea for the song and put a tune to it." According to Rice, "At least xx people claimed to have written 'You Are My Sunshine.' I had a gal write me from California that she wrote information technology."[18]

Davis lived to be 101 years onetime, and gave a number of conflicting accounts. When interviewed by Dorothy Horstman for her 1975 book 'Sing Your Heart Out Country Boy,'[20] he didn't claim authorship of the song, but instead related its history of popularity.

Tony Russell states, "Though Mitchell's name appears on the copyright listing, he had already sold his half share to Davis."[12] This is non reflected in the records of the United States Copyright Athenaeum, which give the name, date and renewal number, "Charles Mitchell (A); 2Feb67; R403742".[21]

Chart operation [edit]

"You Are My Sunshine"
Single by Gene Autry
B-side "It Makes No Difference Now"
Released July 10, 1941 (1941-07-10) [22]
Recorded June eighteen, 1941[23]
Studio CBS Columbia Square, Hollywood, California
Genre Hillbilly
Length two:25
Characterization Okeh

"You Are My Sunshine" was one of Jimmie Davis' biggest-selling records (1 source claims it was "among the top five country music recordings of that twelvemonth"),[18] and it has enjoyed continual success ever since. In 1940, the Vocalion version by Bob Atcher and Bonnie Blue Eyes, released in Feb, went to number ane on the embryonic Billboard Top Hillbilly Recordings of the Month (July 27, 1940, consequence).[24] Mayhap cheers to the popularity of the Davis and Atcher versions, the original 1939 recording by The Pine Ridge Boys peaked at number iv on Oct 26, 1940.[25] Wayne King and his Orchestra recorded the starting time version to hit the popular music chart on September four, and reached number 19 on November 9, 1940.[26]

On March xiv, 1941, the Factor Autry movie Dorsum in the Saddle debuted, with Autry singing his signature song, "Back In The Saddle Once again," and "You Are My Sunshine". On June xviii,[27] he recorded the latter at CBS Columbia Square Studio, Hollywood, California, and it was released July 10 on Okeh Records. On July 8, 1941 (1941-07-08), Bing Crosby recorded his version at Decca Recording Studios, New York City, also released in July. Both recordings made the National All-time-Selling Charts,[28] with Autry going to number 1 on the Billboard Summit Hillbilly Recordings chart on September 27,[29] where he remained for over 20 weeks, into January 1942. Autry's version remained on the chart for much of 1942,[30] finally bowing out after l weeks.[31] In 1962, a version past Ray Charles, with the Raelettes and Margie Hendrix, reached number ane on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and number vii on its Hot 100 chart.[32]

Appearances [edit]

In the 1997, The Simpsons episode "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson", Marge Simpson sends a recording of herself singing "Yous Are My Sunshine" to her daughter, who is homesick while enrolled in a military school.[33] This is often described as one of the nearly touching moments of the series, Sam Scott of Looper calling information technology "ane of the almost powerful moments of melancholy beauty in a series that got them down to an fine art course."[34]

In March 2020, British choirmaster Gareth Malone announced a new initiative titled the Great British Home Chorus, a new home choir for people internationally whilst anybody was stuck at home during the COVID-nineteen pandemic. For the finale, Malone orchestrated a choral version of "You Are My Sunshine", with over 11,000 singers taking part, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra. The song was released as a unmarried, with all the profits being donated to NHS Charities Together.[35]

Recognition [edit]

After Davis' second term every bit governor, his admirers were disappointed when Gov. John J. McKeithen vetoed a bill in 1968 that would take fabricated ''You Are My Sunshine'' Louisiana's official vocal. The reason was that the song said not a discussion about Louisiana. Virginia Shehee, a long-time Davis family unit friend and member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1976 to 1980, re-introduced legislation to make "You Are My Sunshine" the official state vocal.[36] In 1977, the Legislature decreed that "Y'all Are My Sunshine" would share honors every bit the country vocal with "Requite Me Louisiana" past Doralice Fontane.[37]

As the millennium drew near, Hall of Fame organizations started cartoon up lists to honor the best music of the 20th century. On September 2, 1992, Country America mag designated "You Are My Sunshine" 35th on its Top 100 State Songs of All-Time list. Next, it was amidst the pre-1950 records selected to join the Grammy Hall of Fame on February 24, 1999, On June 17, Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new State Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville, and the event included a guitar marching band, led by Chet Atkins, playing "Wildwood Flower" and "You Are My Sunshine."

In 2000, the Songwriter'southward Hall of Fame chose Davis' version of "Y'all Are My Sunshine" to receive information technology's Towering Song Award[38] [39] The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) published their list of the top 365 "Songs Of The Century" on March 7, 2001, and "You Are My Sunshine" placed #14.[40] The Country Music Foundation published "Heartaches By The Number," celebrating state's "500 greatest singles," on March 14, 2003, with "You Are My Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis on the list. On June 8, 2003, it ranked #73 on CMT's "100 Greatest Songs Of Country Music." On March 21, 2013, the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress added it for long-term preservation.[41]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1967). Itemize of Copyright Entries 3D Ser Vol 21 Pt five Secs 1-2. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ^ "Decca matrix 67157. You lot are my sunshine / Jimmie Davis – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu . Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Russell, Tony (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942. New York: Oxford Academy Press. p. 85. ISBN0-19-513989-5.
  4. ^ "Catalog of Copyrights 1967". ia600200.us.annal.org . Retrieved 2021-08-28 .
  5. ^ CD liner notes: Disney Children's Favorites four, 1990 Disney Records
  6. ^ "'You Are My Sunshine' Author Jimmie Davis Dies". BMI.com. 2000-eleven-05. Retrieved 2021-08-29 .
  7. ^ "The State Of Louisiana". 2014-11-29. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2021-08-31 .
  8. ^ "Bluebird B-8263 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu . Retrieved 2021-08-31 .
  9. ^ Russell, Tony (2004). Land Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 85. ISBN0-nineteen-513989-5.
  10. ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942 (Oxford: Oxford Academy Press, 2004), p. 697.
  11. ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), p. 746.
  12. ^ a b Russell, Tony (April 29, 1998). Y'all Are My Sunshine 5CD Box Set. Bear Family Records. pp. liner notes (booklet) UPC/EAN=4000127162168.
  13. ^ Russell, Tony, and Bob Pinson. Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), p. 304.
  14. ^ "Itemize of Copyrights 1967". ia600200.us.annal.org . Retrieved 2021-08-28 .
  15. ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com . Retrieved Baronial 23, 2021.
  16. ^ "Peermusic History". www.peermusic.com . Retrieved Baronial 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "Rosemont Records, Inc". world wide web.rosemontrecords.com . Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d Pappas, Theodore (Nov 1990). "The 'Theft' of an American Classic". Chronicles. The Rockford Found.
  19. ^ Hannusch, Jeff (October 1, 2009). "Archetype Songs of Louisiana: 'You Are My Sunshine'". OffBeat.
  20. ^ Horstman, Dorothy (1975). Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy. Dutton. ISBN978-0-525-20465-7.
  21. ^ "Catalog of Copyrights1967". ia600200.united states.annal.org . Retrieved 2021-08-28 .
  22. ^ "GeneAutry.com: Music, Movies & More than - The Essential Gene Autry, 1931-1953". www.geneautry.com . Retrieved 2022-02-07 .
  23. ^ Russell, Tony (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 85. ISBN0-nineteen-513989-five.
  24. ^ "The Billboard July 27, 1940 p84". worldradiohistory.com. July 27, 1940. Retrieved Baronial 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "The Billboard Oct 26, 1940 p84". worldradiohistory.com. October 26, 1940. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  26. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Popular Memories 1890–1954 . Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 615. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
  27. ^ Russell, Tony (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942. New York: Oxford University Printing. p. 85. ISBN0-xix-513989-5.
  28. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954 . Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 615. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
  29. ^ "The Billboard September 27, 1941 p69". worldradiohistory.com. September 27, 1941. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  30. ^ Inc, Nielsen Concern Media (January 31, 1942). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  31. ^ "The Billboard August 1, 1942 p68". worldradiohistory.com. August one, 1942. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  32. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1988). "Ray Charles". Meridian R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 82. ISBN0-89820-068-7.
  33. ^ Groening, Matt (November 3, 1999). The Simpsons Forever!: A Consummate Guide to Our Favorite Family unit...Continued. HarperCollins. ISBN978-0-06-098763-three – via Google Books.
  34. ^ Nicholson, Mikey. "27 Moments From "The Simpsons" That Always Brand You Ugly Cry". BuzzFeed.
  35. ^ Shaw Roberts, Maddy (July 31, 2020). "xi,000 voices sing 'You Are My Sunshine' in heartwarming finale to Gareth Malone's lockdown choir". Classic FM . Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  36. ^ "Virginia Ruth Kilpatrick Shehee". The Shreveport Times . Retrieved July nine, 2015.
  37. ^ "The hit song "You Are My Sunshine" originated in Billy Rouge". [225]. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2021-08-29 .
  38. ^ "Towering Song | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org . Retrieved 2021-08-29 .
  39. ^ ""You Are My Sunshine" | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org . Retrieved 2021-08-29 .
  40. ^ "RIAA Announce "Songs Of The Century" - March seven, 2001". calendar.songfacts.com . Retrieved 2021-08-29 .
  41. ^ Staff 3/21/2013, CMT com. ""You lot Are My Sunshine" Added to National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress". CMT News . Retrieved 2021-08-29 .

External links [edit]

  • Louisiana Legends Gala held on Oct 13, 1990, features former Governor Jimmie Davis singing his most famous vocal, "You Are My Sunshine."
  • "You Are My Sunshine" performed past Gene Autry on YouTube
  • "Yous Are My Sunshine" performed by Nat King Cole on YouTube
  • "You Are My Sunshine" performed past Ray Charles on YouTube

dunlopmaimad.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_My_Sunshine