“Some old time MUSIC Just for Today”

 

If you were  lucky to be living  in the good ole days of 1944… then you did get to hear this song… as it was setting the mood to do your part in the WWII effort… with a “positive attitude we would WIN!”

Wikipedia gives some background on the origin of one of the most popular song in the 1940s, “Accentuate the Positive”, the attitude of doing right. In 1944, singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer came to hear of one of the Sermons of the Reverend M. J. Divine (better known as FATHER DIVINE), Founder of the International Peace Mission Movement and Fulfiller of Scripture Prophecy of the Second Coming of the Christ for the Christian world and the Coming of the Messiah for the Jewish world. Rev. Divine became well-known to the public in 1931 while carrying on HIS Work and Mission in Sayville, Long Island, New York. The Rev. Divine’s Sermon subject was “Accentuate the positive to eliminate the negative.” Mercer said, “Wow, that’s a colorful phrase!” (according to John Gilliland, Pop Chronicles the 1940’s and Bob McKenzie, “40’s Sounds Return to Radio”). He went back to Hollywood and, together with songwriter Harold Arlen (“Over The Rainbow”), wrote “Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive”, which Mercer recorded himself with the Pied Pipers in 1945. It was also recorded by Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters that same year. Other artists recording the song include Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Page with Jo Stafford, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler with Bing Crosby, Tami Gunden, Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Thomas Quasthoff with Till Bronner.

The Mills Brothers are one of the greatest singing groups of all times. “Paper Doll” has always been one of my favorite songs. No one can sing it like the Mills Brothers.

One need look no further than this video clip for evidence of Dean’s tremendous admiration and affection for Harry Mills. How fortunate Dean was to be able to perform with his greatest musical influence. It’s obvious he’s having a hell of a lot of fun!

As the song is about to begin, Harry has the look of a man holding a hand of five aces. He opens his mouth and out pours the gift of God. lol. I absolutely love this clip!

As much as Dean OWNED his show, you can see by his body language and the sheer joy on his face that he really loved performing with his heroes when they appeared on his show……


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