May 28, 1955 - Ballad of Davy Crockett – Popular single in the U.S. by Kaye Spencer #firestarpress #prairierosepubs #classictv

On May 28, 1955, The Ballad of Davy Crockett performed by Bill Hayes was the most popular song in the U. S.¹ The song ended 1955 in the Number 6 position. Here are the Top Ten singles for 1955².

1. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado
2. Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and His Comets
3. The Yellow Rose of Texas by Mitch Miller
4. Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams
5. Unchained Melody by Lex Baxter
6. The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes
7. Love is a Many –Splendored Thing by the Four Aces
8. Sincerely by The McGuire Sisters
9. Aint’t that a Shame by Pat Boone
10. The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry) by Georgia Gibbs
    

I have a 45 rpm of The Ballad of Davy Crockett by the Sons of the Pioneers. The “B” Side is The Grave Yard Filler of the West. I don't recall the lyrics, but I remember it has an upbeat tempo and silly lyrics. Due to a basement flood a few years ago, I lost the covers to my vinyl records, but I salvaged the records. Unfortunately, I don’t have a record player. It would be great fun to listen to this record.

Kaye's 45 rpm - Ballad of Davy Crockett by the Sons of the Pioneers

 A little history of The Ballad of Davy Crockett and the made-for-tv movie³:

Buena Vista Distribution poster⁶

George Bruns⁴ wrote the music and Thomas W. Blackburn wrote the lyrics. George Bruns is considered a Disney Legend⁴. His film scores include Johnny Tremain, One Hundred and One Dalmations, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, and Robin Hood, to name a few. He was also the recipient of several Academy Awards.

Thomas W. Blackburn was an American Author, screenwriter, and lyricist⁵. The lyrics to The Ballad of Davy Crockett were his first musical lyrics. He was a Disney employee who worked in the story department. He wrote several novels and screenplays for movies and television. Examples are Raton Pass, Colt .45, The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, Cattle Queen of Montana, Johnny Tremain, Davy Crockett (King of the Wild Frontier), Maverick (several episodes), and single episodes for other popular television westerns of the time.

Fess Parker played Davy Crockett for the live-action Disney television miniseries, and he also sang the song as the show’s theme. Buddy Ebsen was his co-star. The show had three episodes: 

• Davy Crockett Indian Fighter (aired December 15, 1954)
• Davy Crocket Goes to Congress (aired January 26, 1955)
• Davy Crockett at the Alamo (February 23, 1955)

The song was covered by a host of artists, and it ultimately sold ten million copies. The television show became wildly popular the world over thanks to Disney’s targeted marketing campaign in the UK to piggyback on the show’s U.S. popularity. It was called the “Crockett craze” in the U.S., particularly the signature coonskin cap that Crockett wore.

Here is Bill Hayes singing The Ballad of Davy Crockett.

 

Until next time,

Kaye Spencer

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 Resources (Note: Wikipedia as a reliable resource should be taken with a grain of salt… preferably around the rim of a Margarita.) ;-)

1- On-This-Day.com. Music History for May 28. http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/music/may28.htm. 1999-2018. 26 May 2018

2- Billboard year-end top 30 singles of 1955. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_year-end_top_30_singles_of_1955. 31 March 2018. 26 May 2018.

3- The Ballad of Davy Crockett. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Davy_Crockett. 30 March 2018. 26 May 2018.

4- George Bruns. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bruns. 12 February 2018. 26 May 2018.

5- Tom. W. Blackburn. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_W._Blackburn. 8 January 2018. 26 May 2018.

6- Buena Vista Distribution. Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. Movie poster. By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32739297. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett,_King_of_the_ Wild_Frontier#/media/File:Davy_Crockett,_King_of_the_Wild_Frontier_FilmPoster.jpeg.15 may 2018. 26 May 2018.