Mildred & Patty's Tune

           SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH

       MILDRED & PATTY'S TUNE

   I know some of my friends are celebrating
Birthdays today and to them I extend my
sincere good wishes and congratulations.
   But when you're gathered around the table
getting ready to blow out all those candles
(and if they're my friends chances are there
are a fair number of candles) keep in mind
that June 27th is also the Birthday of the
song everyone will be singing in your
honor!
    Back in 1893 a pair of sisters, Mildred
and Patty Hill, wrote a song for their nursery
school students. It was, originally, "Good
morning to you." Eventually it evolved into
 "Happy Birthday to you."
    And somebody, sometime over those
122 years, filed a Copy write on the song!
Even though those sisters are long gone
their estate or, perhaps, the publishing
company, still collects royalties whenever
"Happy Birthday" is sung or played by a
profit making enterprise. An example....
the scene in which I appear in the movie
"All In Time" was written as a Birthday
Party get together. When the producers
realized the "Happy Birthday" song would
cost them some dough, the scene was
changed to a picnic. I did miss the cake!
    Small change? Hardly! The royalties
bring in an estimated two million dollars
a year! Makes you think about writing
a song!
    So if your day includes a Birthday
Party you may want to shut the doors
before you start singing or switch to
"For He's (or She's) A Jolly Good
Fellow."
    Whichever, hope you're in tune
and that all your NEWS is good!