THE MOST POPULAR SONG HITS AND PERFORMERS OF 1946

1946 Pop Standards and Artists

1946 Perry Como They Say It's Wonderful Les Brown I've got the Sun in the Morning Freddy Martin Doin What's Come Naturally Annie Get Your Gun was first performed in 1946. The book for the show was written by Dorothy and Herbert Fields and the music by Mr. Irving Berlin. The show was written for and starred Ethel Merman. Rodgers and Hammerstein would be the producers of this Musical whose music would stay part of American culture. Annie get your gun told a fictional version of the life of Annie Oakley who was a female sharp shooter for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The musical centered on her romance with another star of the show Frank Butler. The show would run on Broadway for 1147 performances. The show would be revived several times with such stars as Mary Martin. Olympic athlete Kathy Rigby, and more than once with Ethel Merman. The movie would be attempted to be made with Judy Garland, but sadly her personal issues did not allow her to complete the project although she had already recorded the soundtrack. Garland was replaced with Betty Hutton. The three songs above were part of the Irving Berlin score and remain American standards. The one not mentioned on the list for the top songs 0f 1946, but still became part of America's Theater history if not the anthem for all performers is There's No Business Like Show Business. Bing Crosby and the Jesters McNamara's Band Written in 1945 by O'Connor and Stamford this song would go up into the top ten for Bing Crosby in 1956. The song was the story of a small Irish band led of course by McNamara. The song was based on an actual Irish band of the same name. It is another standard that Irish Americans have adapted as their own, especially on St.Patrick's Day. Dixie Hummingbirds Amazing Grace This song may be as popular as it's source, which is the Bible. It's author was John Newton a Slave Trader who, one day, was caught in a terrible storm at sea, he prayed for God's Mercy. God answered Newton's Prayer. A year or so later Newton gave up the slave trade and began to study theology; he would eventually pastor a church. Newton with his friend William Cowper wrote the lyrics for Newton's sermon for January 1, 1773. However it was more than likely chanted and not actually sung. Music would be added and different tunes used. It was in 1835 that the song was married to the tune, New Britain, which is the version we know today. For TV comedy fans the lyrics can be sung exactly to the tune of the theme of Gilligan's Island. It is estimated that Amazing Grace is performed around 10 million times annually. William Wilberforce, who would be one of the main players in the freeing of the slaves in Britain, was a friend of Newton's and was influenced and encouraged by him. Eddie Howard I Love You For Sentimental Reasons  The song was written in 1945 by William Best. Deek Watson is credited as also being part of the creation of the song, although there is some dispute about this. The song has been recorded and rerecorded throughout the century into the next. Dean Martin, Linda Ronstadt and Kathy Lee Gifford would all record this American Standard. Judy Garland On The Atchison Topeka and The Santa Fe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA The Harvey Girls is a film that dramatized the life of the women that went west to be waitresses for the Harvey House Restaurants which were expanding by being placed strategically across the United States at Railroad stations to serve hungry travelers going west in the 1800s. The film starred Judy Garland as well her co-star from The Wizard of Oz Ray Bolger. Angela Lansbury, at the time a part of MGMs Galaxy of Stars, also had a featured role in the film. On The Atchison Topeka and The Santa Fe was a production number sung when the ladies arrive at their new home in the west. Nat King Cole Get Your Kicks on Route 66 The song, for the most part, is known by just part of it's title, Route 66. It was composed in 1946 by Bobby Troupe and recorded that same year by Nat King Cole. Troupe got his inspiration for the song while driving across country from Pennsylvania to California. He used Route 66 for most of the journey and lists all the places the road passes thru. The song has been recorded by such artists as different as Natalie Cole and Aerosmith. Johnny Mercer Zip a Dee Do Dah Walt Disney animation has brought to the world many songs. Love songs, fun songsand sad songs. The Disney Studios is also responsible for the song" Zip a Dee Do Dah". The music is by Allie Wrubel and the lyrics by Ray Gilbert. The movie was animated and live action and was called "Song of The South." Song of the South told the folk stories of Uncle Remus and was popular for it's time, unfortunately for modern movie enthusiasts the movie is locked in the Disney vaults and not available in this country. Uncle Remus was a slave and told his stories to his owners children in the film. It seems that telling his stories, in this way, has become politically incorrect. The film can be purchased in The United Kingdom.

Top Artists and Songs of 1946 Al Dexter and his Troopers Guitar Polka Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup That's Alright Mama Benny Goodman Symphony Betty Hutton Docor, Lawyer, Indian Chief Bing Crosby and The Jesters McNamara's band Sioux City One Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters South America, Take It Away Bing Crosby Symphony They Say It's Wonderful You Keep Coming Back Like A Song Bob Wills and his Texax Playboys New Spanish Two-Step Carroll Gibbons Chickery Chick Charlie Parker Ornithology Count Basie Blue Skies Dinah Shore Laughing On The Outside The Gypsy You keep Coming Back Like A Song Dixie Humminbirds Amazing Grace Dizzy Gillespie Night In Tunisia Eddie Howard (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons To Each His Own Edith Piaf Les Trois Cloches Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming) Frank Sinatra Day By Day Five Minutes More Oh! What It Seemed To Be The Coffee Song The House I Live In They Say It's Wonderful Frankie Carle Oh! What It Seemed To Be Rumors Are Flying Freddy Martin Bumble Boogie Doin' What Comes naturally Symphony To Each His Own Harry James I Can't Begin To Tell You Hoagy Carmichael and Cass Daley Ole Buttermilk Sky Hoagy Carmichael Huggin' and Chalkin' Johnny Mercer Personality Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Kay Kyser Ole Buttermilk Sky The Old Lamplighter Les Brown with Doris Day The Whole World Is Singing My Song Les Brown I Got The Sun In The Morning You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) Lionel Hampton Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop Hamp's Walkin' Boogie Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five Buzz Me Choo Choo Ch'Boogie Let The Good Times Roll Merle Travis Divorce Me COD Nat 'King' Cole (I Love you) For Sentimental Reasons (Get Your Kicks) On Route 66 Perry Como I'm always Chasing Rainbows Prisoner of Love Surrender They Say It's Wonderful Sammy Kaye I'm A Big Girl Now Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside) The Old Lamplighter Sarah Vaughn If You Could See Me Now Spike Jones Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai) Stan Kenton  Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy The Ink Spots Prisoner of Love The Gypsy To Each His Own The Modernaires and Paula Kelly To Each His Own Thelonious Monk Round About Midnight Tony Martin Rumors Are Flying To Each His Own Xavier Cugat South America Take It Away