Kate was also large; plus size as we now say and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her; "It ain't over till the fat lady sings.” Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star...
6/ Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring. She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the American songwriter Irving Berlin
7/ (who wrote White Christmas) and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song. He went to his files and found a song that he had written but never published,
8/ He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America. Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America.
9/ Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.
10/ This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background,
11/ scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, You're In The Army Now. At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan.
12/ To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans,
13/ Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with God Bless America... so here's the entire song as originally sung. The lead in should still be part of the song. It’s key. —->
@ericbolling This was America. I watched just before Howdy Doody came on, and never missed. I think I was about 9-10-11. I forget, but hearing Kate Smith sing God Bless America sent chills down my spine, and later it sent my ass to Nam. Thank You Eric.