Bye Bye Blackbird – END

“Bye Bye Blackbird” is a feel-good song; it was written in 1926 by composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon, and sung by Eddie Cantor. According to Don Tyler in his 2007 book Hit Songs 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era, it was Henderson’s third hit of the year. First popularized by Eddie Cantor, this standard has been recorded by numerous artists. A full arrangement (by Jeff Muston) was published in London by Francis, Day & Hunter at 3s6d, copyright 1954; the original was copyright 1926 by Jerome H. Remick & Co and 1948 by Remick Music Corp of New York. Gene Austin’s original version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005; Josephine Baker’s version is best forgotten.

The song retained its popularity through the Great Depression, probably because of its optimism, and has featured in a number of films, including most notably and unsurprisingly the 1953 biopic The Eddie Cantor Story. The following year it reached #1 in the UK, in a manner of speaking. Boogie woogie pianist Winifred Attwell included “Bye Bye Blackbird” in her instrumental medley “Let’s Have Another Party,” which held the top spot for five weeks. >>