Harbor Lights
Encyclopedia
"Harbor Lights" is a popular song by Hugh Williams (pseudonym for Will Grosz
) with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy
. This song was originally sung by Frances Langford
in 1937
and was published again in 1950
.
The song has been recorded by many artists; charting versions were recorded by Sammy Kaye
, Guy Lombardo
, Bing Crosby
, Ray Anthony
, Ralph Flanagan
, Elvis Presley
, The Platters
(peaking at #8 on the Billboard
charts in 1960), and Ken Griffin
. Other versions were recorded by Willie Nelson
, Vera Lynn
, The Ink Spots
and Jon Rauhouse. It was recorded in Polish by Irena Santor
as "Portowe Światła".
The biggest-selling version was recorded by the Sammy Kaye
orchestra. The recording was released by Columbia Records
as a 78rpm single and a 45rpm single. The record first reached the Billboard
charts on September 1, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks, peaking at #1.
The Guy Lombardo
orchestra recording of August 24, 1950 was released by Decca Records
. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 6, 1950 and lasted 20 weeks, peaking at #2.
The Bing Crosby
recording was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on November 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks, peaking at #10.
The Ray Anthony
orchestra recording was released by Capitol Records
. The flip side was "Nevertheless
." The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.
The Ralph Flanagan
orchestra recording was released by RCA Victor Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 27, 1950 and lasted 5 weeks, peaking at #27.
The Ken Griffin
recording was released by Columbia Records. The record reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted only one week, charting at #27.
Wilhelm Grosz
Wilhelm Grosz was an Austrian composer, pianist and conductor.Wilhelm Grosz was born in Vienna. He studied music with Franz Schreker and Guido Adler. In 1921 he was appointed conductor of the Mannheim Opera, but returned to Vienna in 1922, where he worked as a pianist and composer...
) with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy
Jimmy Kennedy
Jimmy Kennedy OBE was an Irish songwriter, predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer", or co-writing with the composers Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz and Nat Simon amongst others.-Biography:Kennedy was born near Omagh...
. This song was originally sung by Frances Langford
Frances Langford
Julia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
in 1937
1937 in music
-Events:*January 21 – Paul Sacher conducts the world première of Béla Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta in Basel*June 2 – The incomplete version of Alban Berg's opera Lulu is premièred in Zürich *June 8 – Première of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in Frankfurt, Germany.*November 30 –...
and was published again in 1950
1950 in music
-Events:*January 3 – Sam Phillips launches Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.*August – Herbert Howells' Hymnus Paradisi is premiered at the Three Choirs Festival.*Malcolm Sargent becomes chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra....
.
The song has been recorded by many artists; charting versions were recorded by Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
, Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
, Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.- Biography :...
, Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan , was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.-Biography:He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
(peaking at #8 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts in 1960), and Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin
Kenneth W. "Ken" Griffin was an American organist.-Biography:Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was "You Can't Be True, Dear" , which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular,...
. Other versions were recorded by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
, The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
and Jon Rauhouse. It was recorded in Polish by Irena Santor
Irena Santor
Irena Santor is a retired Polish singer. She was a very popular and prolific in her youth. She spent the first years of her life in Solec Kujawski....
as "Portowe Światła".
The biggest-selling version was recorded by the Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
orchestra. The recording was released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as a 78rpm single and a 45rpm single. The record first reached the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts on September 1, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks, peaking at #1.
The Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
orchestra recording of August 24, 1950 was released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 6, 1950 and lasted 20 weeks, peaking at #2.
The Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
recording was released by Decca Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on November 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks, peaking at #10.
The Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.- Biography :...
orchestra recording was released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. The flip side was "Nevertheless
Nevertheless
Nevertheless may refer to:* Nevertheless , an album by Christine Fellows* Nevertheless , an American Christian indie pop rock band* "Nevertheless ", a song written by Harry Ruby...
." The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.
The Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan
Ralph Flanagan , was a famed big band leader, conductor, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.-Biography:He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors...
orchestra recording was released by RCA Victor Records. The record first reached the Billboard charts on October 27, 1950 and lasted 5 weeks, peaking at #27.
The Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin
Kenneth W. "Ken" Griffin was an American organist.-Biography:Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was "You Can't Be True, Dear" , which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular,...
recording was released by Columbia Records. The record reached the Billboard charts on October 20, 1950 and lasted only one week, charting at #27.