“A real, live nephew of my uncle Sam, born on the 4th of July”
–George M. Cohan, “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
The U.S. was born on the 4th of July (1776). As reported in my last blog, there is some question about the accuracy of that statement, but most people accept it and celebrate our nation’s birth that day.
Giuseppe Garibaldi was born on the 4th of July (1807). Garibaldi was an Italian patriot who could accurately be called the “George Washington of Italy.” He led a rag-tag army of “Red Shirts” to key victories in the war to unify Italy. After achieving unification in 1861 and helping to create the modern nation of Italy, he was a popular leader who could have ruled the new country as a dictator. He believed strongly in a republican form of government, however, and instead retired to the island of Caprera, refusing to accept any reward for his services. The true story is a bit more complicated than this, but one British historian referred to him as “the only wholly admirable figure in modern history.”
President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July (1872). As vice-president, he succeeded to the presidency following the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. He was not very ambitious or successful as president, best known for his reticence in speaking and for sleeping twelve hours a day while in office. That record for napping was reportedly surpassed by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
Ron Kovic was born on the 4th of July (1946). In the 1960s, Kovic joined the marines right out of high school, filled with patriotism created by watching Hollywood films that made war look like a glorious endeavor. In Vietnam, however, he discovered that war was anything but glorious. Horribly wounded and crippled for life, he began to question America’s role in Southeast Asia and protested the war as a founding member of the group, Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He wrote a best-selling book about his experiences, and Tom Cruise was nominated for an Oscar for playing Kovic in the film Born on the Fourth of July. Oliver Stone won his second Academy Award for directing that 1989 film, and the “Captain Dan” character in Forest Gump was modeled in part on Kovic.
At the top of this article, I quoted George M. Cohan, the great American showman from the early 20th Century. Among the 300 songs that he authored, his best-known are patriotic anthems such as “Over There,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and the aforementioned “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” The 1942 biographical film about him is also called Yankee Doodle Dandy, and features an irresistible, Oscar-winning performance by Jimmy Cagney. It’s one of those movies that I can recite by heart, but I still watch every time it comes up on television. Cohan was actually born on the third of July, but I guess he figured, “Why let the truth ruin a good song?”
In my last blog entry, I wrote about the relationship between Jefferson and Adams, and the remarkable circumstances concerning their deaths. They both died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S. By an amazing coincidence, on that same day, one of the greatest American song-writers was born.
Stephen C. Foster had a tragic life that lasted only 37 years. Repeatedly cheated by his managers and publishers, he died penniless in New York in 1864. In that short time, however, he created 200 of the most popular and long-lasting songs in American history. “Oh Susanna,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Swanee River” (actually called “Old Folks at Home”), and “Camptown Races” (with the profound words, “Doo Dah, Doo Dah” in the chorus) were among his many songs. A century later, in 1942, US songwriters went on strike to fight for higher royalties. Radio stations were unable to play any songs currently covered by copywrite laws, so they turned back to the 19th Century for material that had fallen into public domain. Stephen Foster was re-discovered by a new audience, and his song, “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light-Brown Hair,” rose to number one on the “Hit Parade” charts. Because many of his songs were performed in blackface by white singers in the Minstrel Show tradition, his songs have fallen out of favor today. Still, you can hear his music, in one form or another, played in commercials, cartoons, and films every year.
In the early ’80s, I was watching the Kentucky Derby, and I was emotionally moved by the sight of 130,000 people singing “My Old Kentucky Home” before the race. I knew that Foster had written that song, and, in the days before Google, I headed to the library to learn more about him. My research led me to write a song about him. I recently stumbled on a version of the song I had recorded about twenty years ago, and I created a little film for it. The sound is a bit low, so you might have to turn the volume up. Play it on Independence Day and remember Stephen Foster, as well as the other people born on the 4th of July.
Click on the link:
This was great! Fun to hear the old songs! So many fun memories at Someplace Else!!
Happy 4th of July!
Thanks, Therese. Those were some fun times. I’ve been playing again for the past year and a half, but I can’t find a club near us where I can find a new audience. Have a great 4th and say hi to Bruce.
Keep singing and writing music!! Love the songs and always love your blogs!!
Gail
Thanks, Gail. I’ve been finding some old tapes of those long-ago performances. When I figure out how to transfer them to a digital format, I’ll post some more songs. Have a great 4th.
You are so talented! I really enjoyed this song. I wish I could sing like you. Zsozso told me as a two year old that we had a CD when I attempted to sing her the complicated masterpiece Twinkle, twinkle, little star. It was a bit if a scarring experience that made me never even sing the alma mater in public after that 🙂
Thank you Dora. We will write off your lack of singing ability as a English as a second language issue. Send me Zsozso’s email address; her old Brown address keeps kicking them back to me.
Good stuff History Boy,
I love the idea of you maybe releasing more of your music. As a punk kid with 5 brothers and a sister, I got 90% of my music influences from you. My favorite musicians still to this day are John Prine, Steve Goodman and Metallica, and you introduced me to 2 out of 3. I remember the Strasser family, and watching them perform, and then getting a front row seat to see my big brother Jack perform at parties, the campground, and Someplace Else. I don’t think I ever told you this but watching you perform was one of the highlights of my childhood. I knew (probably still do) all the words to all your songs, and felt special singing along. I even recorded your song “Mayday” with 4 part harmony, where I performed all 4 parts. I will never forget getting a pie in the face on St. Patrick’s day at Someplace Else, after I sent you a letter threatening to sue you for forging Dave Bromberg’s name on your promotional material.
Your songs need to be heard. You’re a fantastic story teller, and I always dreamed about writing a song together. Who knows what the future holds. I can picture you auditioning for American Idol with all the other 12 year olds. Lol
What a great comment. Thanks so much for the kind words. As it was when I was teaching and coaching, I never realized how much influence I had over someone in the audience–or in your case, many audiences. I remember your prank, sending a threatening letter, and my response once I figured out it wasn’t real and that you were the culprit. I hired a “hitman” to get you in the face with a pie right after I recited a poem which indicated I knew it was you. I have been playing again, so maybe I can record some of the old songs–although I may have to ask you to send me the lyrics. Senility has affected my ability to remember songs I haven’t heard in 35 years.
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting you and Jack and meeting Mary. Send me Jack’s email address and I’ll add him to my list. One last thing: Are you sure I didn’t introduce you to the melodic beauty of Metallica?
Awesome just listened and it brought me back to Someplace Else. Great times. I think of Steven Foster and the story when I hear his songs I tell ppl the back story and ppl think I made it up. My favorite well I have so many but my daughter loves “The Perfect High”. Lol great job Jack you brought joy and laughter to a lot of ppl. Thanks.
Thanks for the note. You’re right–we did have some great times at Someplace Else. As I recall, many of those times continued long after the club was officially closed and the doors were locked. Some of them continued back at our house a few blocks away. I first thought it strange that you let your daughter listen to me performing “Perfect High.” Of course, I was picturing a 6-year-old tyke listening to the totally inappropriate poem. I guess she would be older than that now . . . Visited my aunt Mar recently, and I know you live close to her. But we had a house full of people I haven’t seen since my mom’s funeral 10 years ago. Maybe next time we can catch up.
Hi Jack,
Your music is always so fun! Keep writing and singing. I only had the pleasure of hearing you once and I believe it was at “Someplace Else” although I don’t remember where that was. Thank you for writing the last verse on my song “The Pendulum Swings” this past year. You inspire me to attempt to write more songs.
Many of Steven Foster songs were a big part of my childhood. My dad’s family would get together and we would all sing along. My dad’s aunt turned on the player piano, his uncle had a harmonica, and the rest of us played maracas,tambourines, cow bells, kazoos or some other noise maker. You brought back so many memories for me of those wonderful times. Thank you, Jack. Have a wonderful summer!
Thanks for the story! I can picture the Water’s clan banging out a cacophony of noise/music. Have a fun summer and keep making music. BTW, Someplace Else was out in Park Forest; I rented a house about two blocks from the club and tended bar when I wasn’t on the road or playing in town.
Jack,
I am getting caught up today, so I just now read about Stephen Foster and heard your songs. I hope you can find a place to play in River Falls. You need to write more songs! Your blogs always teach and entertain and I suspect your classes were the same and why your students loved you. Now I will never hear Foster’s songs without feeling sad for him. Your song about the card table at Thanksgiving was perfect—I know from experience at one in Marion. But Grandma’s food made it worth it. And one of the squirts I are with became a two star admiral. Who would have “thunk” it?
BV
Good to hear from you, Barbara, and thanks for the kind words. One surprise I have found in getting back into music is that writing does not come as easily these days. When I was younger, lyrics always popped into my head, or sometimes it was a melody and I just had to find words that fit. Not so much anymore. Prose comes into my head more often than poetry or rhymes. Oh well–one more thing I’ve learned in my old age.