The Harry Simeone Chorale: (DAVIS) "The Little Drummer Boy" (1958)

Описание: featuring the Voices of the Junior Chorale

Second pressings of the 1958 20th FOX single of "The Little Drummer Boy" credit conductor Harry Simeone and another man as composers, yet this song was written in 1941 by Wellesley College teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis as "Carol of the Drum". Like her other 600 compositions, Wellesley choir pianist Davis wrote it for her students.

The true author of Simeone's altered arrangement is Jack Halloran, who recorded his adaptation in 1957. His producer at DOT Records, Henry Onorati was miffed that the label didn't release Halloran's recording as a single. Onorati left DOT, joined 20th FOX and gave the song to Simeone. The two men shared label credit on the hit 45, leaving Halloran out. That's TWO miscarriages of credit for one song. Eventually Miss Davis was added to credits; Halloran never was.

Davis, who became an ASCAP member the year she wrote "Carol of the Drum" died in 1980 at age 87. According to WIKIPEDIA: She left all royalties and proceeds from her compositions, which include operas, choruses, children's operettas, cantatas, piano and organ pieces, and songs, to Wellesley College's Music Department. These funds are used to support students studying performance.


Released Dec. 1958 on vinyl DOT Records 45 #121 (MF-174)

Reissued 1998 on MCA Records various artists CD #MCAD-21057,
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