Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 20 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Life Arts   

The Song; My Melancholy Baby

By       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   2 comments
Message Phil Klein
Become a Fan
  (6 fans)
; }            MY MELANCHOLY BABY by Ernie Burnett

                (a song with a couple of bizarre twists")

 

I was born in Saranac Lake, N.Y. in the year 1927 and became involved in music (with piano lessons.)   My parents were avidly interested in music, and it rubbed off. I became a professional musician.

 

Thus, it was novel to grow up in a small town that was the home of a very famous songwriter, Ernie Burnett. He had had one monster hit song, MY MELANCHOLY BABY, and was constantly asked by the natives when he was going to write another famous song.   This naivete must have bugged Ernie, but some recognition was better than none!  

 

Ernie's birthplace was Cincinnati (1884) and he died in Saranac Lake in 1959.   In the intervening period, his song was used in many movies, the foremost of which was A STAR IS BORN, in which Judy Garland sang Ernie's MY MELANCHOLY BABY.

 

I actually peddled the Adirondack Daily Enterprise to Ernie's house in Saranac at 33 Franklin Ave.   I also have a recollection of his dropping by to give us piano students some chocolates when we were having a group lesson at   the Hotel Saranac.

 

So MELANCHOLY BABY, which had been written in the year 1912, never stopped going strong.   I can tell you, as a piano-player, that I have heard that simulated drunken request a zillion times:   "Hey! Play MELANCHOLY BABY!"   (I tried to research how that started, and there are a large number of "explanations."   Who knows?   

 

But now it's time for the bizarre part.   Ernie had served in the American armed forces in WW I.   He was grievously wounded and in his unconscious state, placed on the back of a truck with many dead and badly wounded soldiers.   Unfortunately, while this was happening, his "dog tags" were lost, so he was unidentifiable.    After a lengthy period of time, Ernie recovered, but there was a severe problem: He had amnesia. There was no way to figure out who this recovered soldier was! This went on for a number of   weeks (or perhaps months) and his identity remained a big mystery.

 

But then, one day, an entertainment troupe stopped by to entertain the troops and one of their big tunes was- you guessed it: MY MELANCHOLY BABY.

 

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Phil Klein Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

I have spent a long and interesting life involved in music, as a performer (piano,) educator (at every level from elementary to graduate school,) solo pianist, bandleader, composer/songwriter; entertainer, storyteller and humorist. In my final (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Mother Machree

THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER (some interesting facts)

Danny Boy (One of a Kind!)

THE UNUSUAL STORY OF A GREAT HIT SONG OF THE 60'S

What Everyone Should Know About Einstein and the Atomic Bomb

The Song; My Melancholy Baby

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend