Jake Harper
Winter Wonderland is a song that was originally recorded in 1934 for RCA Victor. The music was composed by Felix Bernard, and the lyrics were written by Richard B. Smith. The song has since become a Christmas classic and has been covered by over 200 different artists. Chick Bullock was one of the first artists to cover the song in 1934, the same year it was written and originally recorded.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the song "Winter Wonderland" was written | 1934 |
| Songwriters | Felix Bernard, Richard Bernhard Smith, Richard B. Smith, Dick Smith |
| Songwriters' origin | Pennsylvania |
| Songwriters' inspiration | Snow-covered Central Park in Honesdale, PA |
| First recording | Richard Himber, 1934 |
| Artists who have covered the song | Over 200 artists including Perry Como, The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, Bing Crosby, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond, Harry Connick Jr., Jewel, Eurythmics, Chelsea Williams |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith
- It was first recorded by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra
- The song was inspired by snowfall in Smith's hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania
- It has since been covered by over 200 different artists
- The song was originally not intended to be a Christmas song
Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith
"Winter Wonderland" is a song that was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard B. Smith. It is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere, although it was not originally intended to be a Christmas song. The song was originally recorded in 1934 for RCA Victor.
The lyrics were inspired by Smith's memories of Central Park in his hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, covered in snow. Smith was being treated for tuberculosis at the time, and the song was first written as a poem. He wrote the song while looking out of the window at the neighbourhood children playing in the snow, and it reminded him of his healthy, carefree days of his own upbringing.
The song was introduced by the great band leader Guy Lombardo at his Christmas Show in 1934 at Radio City Music Hall. It was then recorded by Joey Nash, accompanied by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz Carlton Orchestra. In December 1934, another version was released by Guy Lombardo and his orchestra, taking the song to the top of the charts for the first time.
"Winter Wonderland" has since been covered by over 200 different artists, including Perry Como, The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, and Lady Gaga. In 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed it as the most-played ASCAP-member-written holiday song of the previous five years.
Butter Chicken and Chicken Makhani: Same Dish, Different Names?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was first recorded by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra
"Winter Wonderland" is a song that was originally recorded in 1934 for RCA Victor. It was first recorded by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra. The recording featured vocals by Joey Nash, who was accompanied by Himber and his orchestra.
The song was written by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith, also known as Richard B. Smith or Dick Smith. Smith was inspired to write the song by the snow-covered park across from his house in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He wrote the song while being treated for tuberculosis at the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Smith entered the song into a contest for jingles and company ads, and it was later set to music by his friend, Felix Bernard, a professional composer.
After many rejections, RCA Victor recorded the song in 1934. Bandleader Guy Lombardo introduced the song at his Christmas Show that year at Radio City Music Hall, and it became one of the biggest hits of 1934. Since its original recording, "Winter Wonderland" has been covered by over 200 different artists and has become a Christmas standard.
In November 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed "Winter Wonderland" as the most-played ASCAP-member-written holiday song of the previous five years. The song has endured as a beloved holiday classic, with numerous artists, including Chick Bullock, putting their own spin on it over the years.
Thawing Chicken Safely: How Long Is Too Long?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song was inspired by snowfall in Smith's hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania
"Winter Wonderland" is a song that was originally recorded in 1934 by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra. It was written by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith, a native of Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Smith was inspired to write the song's lyrics after seeing Central Park in Honesdale covered in snow. His late sister, Marjorie W. Smith, recalled that the snow-covered park across from their house at 922 Church St., Honesdale, inspired the song. The beauty of the snowy landscape, with the lamps illuminating the cascade of snowflakes, is said to have moved Smith to pen the famous lyrics.
In addition, Smith's widow revealed that he wrote the song while recovering from tuberculosis in a sanitarium. Looking out the window at the neighbourhood children playing in the snow, he was reminded of his own carefree days of his upbringing in Honesdale. This inspired him to write about a couple's romance during the winter, with the snow-covered landscape of his hometown in mind.
The song's popularity has endured, with over 200 different artists covering it since its original recording. It has become a Christmas classic, despite not being originally intended as a Christmas song. The imagery of freshly fallen snow and winter romance has resonated with audiences for decades, solidifying "Winter Wonderland" as a beloved holiday standard.
Combining Chicken and Lamb for Dogs: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It has since been covered by over 200 different artists
"Winter Wonderland" was originally recorded in 1934 by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra. The song was written by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith, who was inspired by the snowfall in his hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Smith's widow recalled that he was inspired by the sight of neighbourhood children playing in the snow from his window at the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was being treated for tuberculosis.
Since its original recording, "Winter Wonderland" has been covered by over 200 different artists. Some notable names include Perry Como, The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Ringo Starr, Bing Crosby, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond, Harry Connick Jr., and Jewel. In 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed the song as the most-played ASCAP-member-written holiday song of the previous five years, with the Eurythmics' 1987 version as the most commonly played.
The song has also been featured in various films, including Elf (2003), Eloise at Christmastime (2003), and The Polar Express (2004). "Winter Wonderland" has become a beloved Christmas classic, evoking images of freshly fallen snow and the joys of winter.
The lyrics of "Winter Wonderland" have undergone some changes over the years. The original version, written by Smith, was a romantic winter interlude. However, a later version printed in 1947 included a "new children's lyric," transforming it into a song about playing in the snow. The snowman mentioned in the song, Parson Brown, was changed to a circus clown, and the final verse's promises were replaced with lyrics about frolicking.
Trampoline Transformations: Chicken Run Ideas and DIY Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song was originally not intended to be a Christmas song
"Winter Wonderland" was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Despite its seasonal theme, which has led to it being regarded as a Christmas song, it was not originally intended to be a Christmas song.
The song was initially written as a poem by Smith while he was being treated for tuberculosis at the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Smith was inspired to write the song by the sight of freshly fallen snow in the park across from his house in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The song's lyrics, which mention a snowman and Parson Brown, a fictitious character representing travelling priests, reflect a couple's romance during the winter.
In 1947, a new version of the song was released that included a "children's lyric" verse, transforming it from a romantic winter song to a song about playing in the snow. This version replaced the promises made by the couple in the final verse with lyrics about frolicking and changed the snowman's name from Parson Brown to a circus clown.
Over the years, "Winter Wonderland" has become a holiday standard, with numerous famous artists interpreting the song and giving it their own unique twist. It has been covered by over 200 different artists, including Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, and Lady Gaga. In 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) listed "Winter Wonderland" as the most-played ASCAP-member-written holiday song of the previous five years. Despite its widespread association with Christmas today, the song's journey to becoming a holiday classic began with Smith's simple appreciation for the beauty of snow-covered landscapes.
Lion Pizza Chicken: What Does This Odd Phrase Mean?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
1934.
"Winter Wonderland" was written by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith.
Over 200 artists have covered "Winter Wonderland", including Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.
