Early in the second decade of the 20th century, a bank executive and amateur musician composed a rather nice melody. Over 40 years later, with lyrics added, it became a #1 hit. Recorded and covered by many significant artists, this song now holds a unique distinction, owing to the post-banking career of its melody's composer. What is the song, and who was that amateur musician?

wendypj

Ahh, 'It's All In The Game' Frankie. THe musician would be Charles Dawes who became VP of the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_All_in_the_Game Nov 06 06, 11:18 PM

gtho4

"It's All In The Game" Written in 1912, it went to #1 in 1958 This is the only #1 hit ever written by a US Vice President. It was composed in 1912 as "Melody in A Major" by then-banker Charles Gates Dawes, who became VP under Calvin Coolidge in 1925. The lyrics were added in 1951 by Carl Sigman, who also changed the song's name to "It's All in the Game." Also in 1951, Sammy Kaye, Carmen Cavallaro, Dinah Shore, and Tommy Edwards each had sizable hits with this - Edwards' reached #18 as his followup to another 1951 hit, "Morning Side of the Mountain." After "It's All in the Game" hit, Edwards' fortunes declined to the point of MGM Records getting ready to drop him in 1958. As a last-ditch effort to save his career, he agreed to re-record this as one of the first stereo singles ever released. He kept the vocal style of the 1951 hit, but gave the new version a rock'n'roll arrangement. The single quickly took the top position on the charts. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2145 http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2145">www.songfacts.com/php?id=2145 Nov 06 06, 11:19 PM

lanfranco

Very nice. I'll have to give the silver mace to wendy, but an honorable mention to you, gtho. Dawes was also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, interestingly enough, but his vice-presidency was a disaster. Nov 07 06, 8:26 AM

Arpeggionist

"This is the only #1 hit ever written by a US Vice President..." Except the small number of songs written by Tom Jefferson in the 1770s and '80s. (And Jefferson was the second VP.) These were rather popular in their day, and their composer's wife performed them well, but after their deaths the songs were almost entirely forgotten. Nov 08 06, 1:58 AM