Anyone who hears the song “God Bless America” knows
Kate Smith, but many don’t realize that she held the solo performing rights to
this Irving Berlin number. (She donated all profits to the Boy Scouts.) Berlin
wrote the piece in 1919, but chose not to publish it because he decided the song
was “too syrupy.” Kate sang it for the first time on Armistice Day, 1938, and
within a year, she became the country’s patriotic symbol.
President Franklin Roosevelt introduced her to Britain’s
King George VI by saying, “This is Kate Smith-this is America.” She “did her
bit,” for the war effort as did many celebrities. A popular Broadway and radio
start, she traveled over 90,000 miles to entertain troops and host bond-selling
marathons.
One such marathon occurred on September 21, 1943. The
Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) held an eighteen hour broadcast during which
Kate spoke at repeated intervals. By the end of the event more than $39 million
in bond pledges had been collected, the largest amount by a single person via
radio. Over the course of the war, she went on to inspire $600 million in war
bond sales.
Hearing of Kate’s death in June 1986, former President
Reagan said, “She thrilled us all with her stirring rendition of ‘God Bless
America,’ and sang with a passion that left few eyes dry. America was indeed
God-blessed to have Kate Smith as one of her daughters.”
Have you ever watched Kate’s rendition of ‘God Bless
America?’ If not, you can catch her performance on this YouTube video.
Linda
Shenton Matchett is an author, journalist, blogger, and
history geek. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry,
Linda has lived in historical places most of her life. She is a volunteer
docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and a Trustee for her local public library.
Active in her church Linda serves as treasurer, usher, and choir member. To
find out more about Linda and her books visit www.LindaShentonMatchett.com. Sign up for her newsletter for links to free ebooks, book reviews, historical tidbits, and more.
