Heart of America in songs and singers Louis Armstrong, Kate Smith, Ray Charles
Commentary, excerpt, editing by Carolyn Bennett
|
S
|
ullied “Beautiful” – American leaders together with their
paymasters and “partners” are gravely failing America’s promise. They create the terror they claim to be curbing. Sober reflection demands their recall – as it is imperative for world health and survival. America,
America … may grace be shed on thee and crown thy good with societal good from
sea to shining sea.
“America the Beautiful” written by poet Katharine Lee Bates
(music composed by organist/choirmaster Samuel A. Ward) was first published in
1910. Ray Charles (b. Ray Charles Robinson, September 23, 1930; d. June 10,
2004); American singer-songwriter, musician and composer, a pioneer in the
genre of soul music during the 1950s; Ray Charles’s version of “America the
Beautiful” lit up U.S. R&B Charts in 1976 during the United States celebration
of its 200th anniversary.
Ray Charles
“America the Beautiful” 1970s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg
R
|
ejected “Blessing” – American leaders together with their
paymasters and “partners” are gravely failing America’s promise. They create the terror they claim to be curbing. Sober reflection demands their recall – as it is imperative for world health and survival. This Land
that we love, “Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light
from above.… God, bless America, My home, sweet home.”
“God Bless America” written by songwriter Irving Berlin in
1918 and revised in 1938 was made a classic recording by and became the
signature song of Kate Smith. Kate Smith (b. Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, May 1,
1907; d. June 17, 1986) known also as “The First Lady of Radio”: American
singer, contralto; well known for her rendition of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless
America.”
Kate Smith “God
Bless America,” 1930s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yrTJdarwy0
|
B
|
linding selfishness – American leaders together with their
paymasters and “partners” are gravely failing America’s promise. They create the terror they claim to be curbing. Sober reflection demands their recall – as it is imperative for world health and survival. Satchmo
saw Skies of blue, clouds of white / Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
[and sang compellingly] … What a wonderful world.
“What a Wonderful World,” written by songwriters Bob Thiele
(as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss, first recorded by Louis
Armstrong and released as a single in 1967. Louis Armstrong (b. August 4, 1901;
d. July 6, 1971), nicknamed “Satchmo” and “Pops”: American jazz trumpeter,
singer, and influential figure in jazz music
Louis
Armstrong “What a Wonderful World” 1960s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU
|
T
|
his spirit of America and a world view represented in poet,
song, songwriter and singer looks on more than a hundred years, back to the first
publication of Bates’ poem as “America the Beautiful”; but even further, to more
than 200 years, if we reflect on Ray Charles’ bicentennial version of “America
the Beautiful” looking to America’s 1776 Declaration. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of
America in Congress July 4, 1776 (Excerpt):
“… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all … are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted
among [people], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long
established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience hath shown, that [humankind] are more disposed to
suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the
forms to which they are accustomed.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them [the people] under
absolute Despotism,
…it
is their right [and] their duty to throw off such Government and to provide new
Guards for their future security.
“Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and
such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems
of Government. The history of the present [leadership]
…is
a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.
A lifelong American writer and writer/activist (former academic and staffer with the U.S. government in Washington), Dr. Carolyn LaDelle Bennett is credentialed in education and print journalism and public affairs (PhD, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; MA, The American University, Washington, DC). Her work concerns itself with news and current affairs, historical contexts, and ideas particularly related to acts and consequences of U.S. foreign relations, geopolitics, human rights, war and peace, and violence and nonviolence.
Dr. Bennett is an internationalist and nonpartisan progressive personally concerned with society and the common good. An educator at heart, her career began with the U.S. Peace Corps, teaching in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Since then, she has authored several books and numerous current-affairs articles; her latest book: UNCONSCIONABLE: How The World Sees Us: World News, Alternative Views, Commentary on U.S. Foreign Relations; most thoughts, articles, edited work are posted at Bennett’s Study: http://todaysinsightnews.blogspot.com/ and on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/08UNCONSCIONABLE/prweb12131656.htm
http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-000757788/UNCONSCIONABLE.aspx
Her books are also available at independent books in New York State: Lift Bridge in Brockport; Sundance in Geneseo; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center in Buffalo; Burlingham Books in Perry; The Bookworm in East Aurora
____________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment