1940-50’s Decade Project

Suzy Q. MoncriefJune 23, 2010

Music: From Bop to Pop Section 10Michelle Moncrief, Instructor

1940 - Social, Political, and Historical Events • The U..S. declares war on Japan after the bombing of

Pearl Harbor on 12-07-1941 and ended in 09-02-1945.• Food rationing began.• Franklin D. Roosevelt serves his 2nd-4th term as

President, but dies in 1945 having served 12 years the longest presidency ever. He helps America conquer the financial problems of the Great Depression, as well as defeating Hitler. He dies before the dismantling of Japan occurs with the atomic bomb.

• The Cold War began in 1947-1991. • 1941-Penicillin revolutionized the world of medicine.• Women went to work as men went to war.• Jazz was the music with the big bands of Tommy

Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman.

• Radio Shows continued on, but the format was carried over to T.V. Show too like Bob Hope, Red Skelton, and Jack Benny Shows.

• Antarctica is discovered and becomes a continent.• Minimum Wage is $.43/Hr• Average Salary is $1,299/Yr • 55% homes have indoor plumbing• Average life span is 65.

Eartha Kitt Earth Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) Actress, Singer, Cabaret Performer, and Animation Voice Married to John William McDonald (d. 1960 - 65) One daughter - Kitt , Two grandchildren

Born on a cotton plantation in the town of North, South Carolina. She began her career as a

member of the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe, and made her first debut in the film Casbah. She

performed in many more films as well, but she really hit the screen big-time with the T.V. series

Batman, as Cat Woman, (which was also one of the first T.V. shows to go Technicolor). She

performed in many Broadway shows such as The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Timbuktu, and Kismet to

name a few. She was performing up until her death, and the younger generation will recognize her

distinctive voice from such characters as Queen Vexus on My Life As A Teenage Robot, and Yzma of

The Emperor’s New Groove. During the 1960’s she was blacklisted after she spoke out against the

Vietnam War at a White House celebration. She was forced to work abroad during this time Europe

where she was adored. However, in 2006 she lit the National Christmas Tree with President and

Mrs. George W. Bush. She died of colon cancer in 2008.

Santa Baby, 1953written by Joan Javits and Philip Springersung by Eartha Kitt, Performed with Les Paul

”Santa Baby” was originally recorded and sung by Earth Kitt in 1953.It was a big hit for her, and she had said it was one of her favorite songs to perform. This is a silly song about a woman’s Christmas list to Santa in which she states she wants extravagant gifts like a sable coat, jewelry, a yacht, and items from Tiffany’s. This song has been done by many other performers most notably Madonna, but Eartha Kitt does it best! It is a favorite still played on the radio today.

Bing Crosby.

Harry Lillis Crosby [1903 - 1977]Band Leader, Singer, SongwriterMarried to Dixie Lee (d. 1952) - 4 kidsand to Kathryn Grant - 3 kids.

He enrolled at Gonzaga University to become a lawyer. One day he purchased

mail order drums, and joined a band called the Musicaladers. He made good

money doing this, and decided to quit school and play music. From big band

music to comedy, to singing, to movies, to GI moral support, Bing Crosby did it

all. He performed with such greats as: Tommy Dorsey, Bob Hope, Louis

Armstrong, Fred Astaire, David Bowie, and the list goes on.

White Christmas, 1940 written by Irving Berlin, sung by Bing Crosby

“White Christmas” (which was a Christmas song) was first introduced on a live radiobroadcast in

1941, and then a record was created to promote the song for the upcoming holiday T.V. special called

Holiday Inn in 1942. It rose to #1 on the pop charts, and remained there for 11 weeks. It was

especially a favorite among troops of WWII because of the verse, just like the ones I used to

know" — and familiar comforting images of home — "where the treetops glisten." The song also

became the theme song for the movie musical White Christmas where Crosby and his friends honor

their commanding officer from World War II with a big celebration.

Oddly enough Cosby did not think he did such a fantastic job on the song. However, his warm voice

melted away life’s troubles so much, that he was a very popular performer of GI troops during the

War. Even the Germans like him. “White Christmas has been ranked #1 for Top 40 Christmas

songs of all time. In 2002 the Library of Congress chose to add it to the National Recording Registry

for significant historical songs. On April 30, 1975 it was broadcasted as a secret signal for the

evacuation of Saigon during the Vietnam War. “White Christmas” still remains a favorite among

people today during the holiday season.

References:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bing_Crosby- http://www.biography.com/dead_famous/images/episode_images/Bing_Crosby_320x240.jpg- http://www.markdroberts.com/images/White-Christmas-bing-m.jpg- http://www.radioarchives.org/pictures/Bing%20Crosby%20Vocalists.jpg- http://tvoneblogs.com/thespin/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/eartha_kitt_highbridnation.jpg- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt- http://blog.nj.com/entertainment_impact_celebrities/2008/12/large_Kitt.JPG- http://www.earthakitt.com/ekpage-bio.html- http://8.media.tumblr.com/GhTmKZMUEgu7iizzgeelzS8fo1_400.jpg- http://www.msad40.org/mvhs/library/images/WWII.jpg- http://www.as.miami.edu/english/wiki_blythe/images/8/83/Fdr.jpg- http://www.dukeellington.com/dukephotos.html- http://www.mishalov.com/images/grant_k_43.jpg- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jack_Benny_Program- http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2007/12/05/amd_santababy.jpg