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In Tune -- by Bill Fuller
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“CANADIAN, EH!”

In the spring of 2004 I received a letter from Gord Davidson in Willowdale, Ontario, thanking me for
some information he had requested.  In his letter, he also related how he'd been after the Climax Jazz
Band for quite awhile to put out a recording of tunes by Canadian composers. He even suggested to
them the title “Canadian, Eh!”

Well, it’s my turn to thank Gord because he gave me the idea for this column. I would welcome any
ideas for future “In Tune” columns that any of our readers may have.
So, here are some more notable works by Canadian composers:

SOME OF THESE DAYS, (1910), by Shelton Brooks (1886 –1975) who also wrote “Darktown Strutters
Ball” and “I Wonder Where My Easy Rider’s Gone.” Brooks sang this song for Sophie Tucker on
their first meeting. She liked it and began using it immediately. It may have been modeled on a
similar tune written in 1905 by Frank Williams called “Some O Dese Days.”

SWEETHEARTS ON PARADE, (1928), by Carmen Lombardo, Guy’s brother. Carmen also wrote
“Coquette” in the same year and “Boo Hoo.” Louis Armstrong and His Sebastian New Cotton Club
Orchestra made a recording of this tune in Los Angeles on December 23, 1930. It was a performance
that strongly foreshadowed the music to come in the 40’s.

I’LL NEVER SMILE AGAIN, (1939), by Ruth Lowe (1915-1981) who wrote this after the tragic demise
of her husband one year after their marriage. In 1936 Ruth was working at the “Song Shop,” a music
store     in Toronto, when Ina Ray Hutton brought her all-girl band to town looking for a piano
player. Ruth auditioned and became the regular pianist in the band. In about 1940 Ruth passed a copy
of her tune to a sax player in the Tommy Dorsey band. Dorsey thought the tune had merit and
arranged it for his new
young singer, Frank Sinatra. It was Sinatra’s first great hit and really launched his career. Later Ruth
Lowe composed another Sinatra hit that became a signature song for Frank: “Put Your Dreams
Away.”  She also worked on the musical scores for the movie musical “The Zeigfield Girl.”

WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, MAGGIE: written in 1866 by Canadian James A. Butterfield.
Even though this song’s form followed that of a lot of post World War I tunes few people realized,  
especially after hearing Benny Goodman’s version, that it dated back to the 1800’s. The lyrics are
from a poem by George W. Johnson (also Canadian) dedicated to his sweetheart, Maggie Clarke.

THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE (1919) by Earnest Seitz and Gene Lockhart, father of
actress June Lockhart (remember “Lassie?”) and a distinguished character actor himself who
appeared in such Broadway musicals as: “The Riviera Girl,” “Virginia,” The Desert Song,” “That’s the
Spirit,” and “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim.” This tune was originally written as a reverential plea for
peace after World War I. The Victor label’s arrangement of this tune for the Benson Orchestra was
very popular. On the Commodore Label recording of this tune with Mel Powell at the piano, Benny
Goodman is listed as “Shoeless Joe Jackson” for contractual reasons. This tune was originally
popularized by the Isham Jones Orchestra and was later revived in 1951 by Les Paul and Mary Ford.
Earlville Association for Ragtime Lovers Yearning
for Jazz Advancement and Socialization
EARLYJAS