5

The team of John Frederick Coots (melody) and Haven Gillespie (lyrics) wrote this #5 song in 1934: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. The melody was composed first, then Gillespie wrote the first few lines in just ten minutes • It was introduced on Eddie Cantor’s Radio Show and became an instant hit, but it was a banjo player, Harry Reser, who became the first to record it with singer Tommy Stacks in 1934 • A year later Tommy Dorsey and his band helped popularize the song further, but it wasn’t until 1943 that the song hit the US charts when Bing Crosby teamed with The Andrew Sisters. Many crooners followed, Sinatra in 1948, then Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Perry Como • In 1975 Bruce Springsteen made a rock song out of it, performing it at the end of his November and December concerts, but the top seller is a jazzy version sung by Canadian Michael Buble’ • In 1970 a stop-motion TV special based on the song aired, narrated by Fred Astaire • MrsP had a late - routine - doctor’s appointment so on the way home we picked up Chinese takeout, and got this blip of a sidewalk snowman • It was an honor having President Zelensky visit The White House today! • Happy Winter Solstice