Song History
“The Old Lamp Lighter” is a popular American song by Charles Tobias and Nat Simon. It was published in 1946 and was first recorded by Sammy Kaye, reaching #1 on the Billboard Charts in December of 1946. It was also major country-pop hit for country act The Browns in 1960.
“The Old Lamplighter” Lyrics
I thought I include the lyrics to the song so that you can sing-a-long to the song. Let me know if this is something you enjoy otherwise I won’t include lyrics in the future.
He made the night a little brighter
Wherever he would go
The old lamplighter
Of long, long ago
His snowy hair was so much whiter
Beneath the candle glow
The old lamplighter
Of long, long agoYou’d hear the patter of his feet
As he came toddling down the street
His smile would cheer a lonely heart you see
If there were sweethearts in the park
He’d pass a lamp and leave it dark
Remembering the days that used to be
For he recalled when things were new
He loved someone who loved him too
Who walks with him alone in memoriesHe made the night a little brighter
Wherever he would go
The old lamplighter
Of long, long ago
His snowy hair was so much whiter
Beneath the candle glow
The old lamplighter
Of long, long agoNow if you look up in the sky
You’ll understand the reason why
The little stars at night are all aglow
He turns them on when night is near
He turns them off when dawn is here
The little man we left so long ago
He made the night a little brighter
Wherever he would go
The old lamplighter of long, long ago
About Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye was born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., on 13 March 1910 in Lakewood, Ohio. He died 2 June 1987 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He was one of the best known bandleader of the Big Band/Swing era as well as a songwriter. His tag line “Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye” became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.
Sammy began is musical career in college as a way to pay his way through school. He majored in engineering with plans to become a civil engineer when he graduated. He put together a band to play school dances and proms and soon became so popular that he open the Varsity Inn, a nickel-a-dance place, on campus and play much of his own music there.
Band History
Upon graduating, Kaye made the decision to pursue a musical career and with all the original members from his college band started to play where ever they could. It wasn’t long before they were playing on the radio and their style began to catch on.
In 1938, by popular demand, Kaye’s band played the Century Room at the Commodore Hotel in New York City for two consecutive years.
So You Want to Lead a Band
It was while playing at the Commodore Hotel that Sammy came up with the gimmick of allowing audience members to play bandleader. As the story goes, a young man dared Kaye to let him lead the band, at the urging of his girlfriend. The gimmick was a big hit and became a signature of the Sammy Kaye Orchestra.
Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye
The phrase “Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye” was born while the band was playing Cabin Club in Cleveland, Ohio. The radio announcer would introduce the band with catchy phrase like “Music in the Rhythmic Way Played by Sammy Kaye,” “Music in the Sentimental Way Played by Sammy Kaye,” and “Let’s Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye.” One night some club patrons came in and yelled out to Sammy, “Hiya swing and sway.” That was all Sammy needed to hear, the band immediately adopted the phrase and it is still using today.
And The Band Plays On
Believe it or not the band is still playing today and is under the direction on Roger Thorpe. Thorpe a former college professor was also an accomplished trumpet player having been a winner on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour at age 14. Thorpe and Kaye had become fast friends while on tour together and when Kaye decided to retire he asked Thorpe to take over as leader of the band. [www.sammykayeorchestra.com]
Notable Band Members
The Sammy Kaye Orchestra featured many vocalists that went on to become stars on their own. One of the most famous alumni of the band was Don Cornell, a singer of American pop standards. Look for future post on Don in the future.
Now listen to Sammy Kaye performing “The Old Lamplighter”.
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The original Kaye vocalist for The Old Lamplighter was Billy Williams who also featured in “Where the Mountains Meet the Sky”, “Don’t Fence Me In”, “Atlanta GA”, “Promises”, “I Miss Your Kiss”, “Honeymoon Lane”, “Sho’-Nuff”, “I’ll be Walkin’ with my Honey Down Honeymoon Lane”, “What Makes the Sunset”, “Headin’ East, Leavin’ the West” and others.