God Bless America by Kate Smith

In early 1940, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried about her country. She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would reignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had written in 1917, but never used it. He said she could have it.

Kate sat at the piano & played it and realized how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing. So, they agreed that any money that would be made off the song would be donated to the Boy Scouts of America. Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties.

This clip is from the movie "You're in the Army Now". You will see a familiar face in this--one that we are all very proud of - several familiar faces, actually, if you are old enough to recognize them. Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith, whom he considered the greatest singer of his age, first sang this song on the radio, a million guys got 'dust' in their eyes and had to wipe the tears the 'dust' caused.

Kate Smith introduces "God Bless America"
 
In the 50s, Kate Smith ended her TV show singing "God Bless America".  Kate entered television with a Monday-Friday afternoon variety show, The Kate Smith Hour (1950-54). It proved so popular that NBC gave her a prime-time show on Wednesday evenings, The Kate Smith Evening Hour. Her last TV series was CBS's The Kate Smith Show, a weekly half-hour musical series in 1960.  Once we had a TV, Kate's show was one of my parent's favorites.  My dad made the same comment each time he heard her sing "God Bless America", "Greatest song ever recorded!"  He may have been right.