Speaker for Tuesday 14th January 2014 - Mr. Terry Anderson
16/01/14 12:30
Photo: President Graham Kane greets Terry Kennedy, with club member Bob McIvor (R)
Talk by Mr Terry Anderson on 'The songs of Jimmy Kennedy'
The Club President Graham Kane took the chair and welcomed members and guests Harold Dixon as well our guest speaker's wife and sister-in-law. The President then introduced our speaker for the morning Mr. Terry Anderson, who gave a tremendous 'all singing and musical' PowerPoint presentation on the 'Songs of Jimmy Kennedy' for a fully enjoyable hour.
Terry started his talk by giving some brief details of Jimmy Kennedy's life - Kennedy was born near Omagh, in the North East part of Ireland. His father, Joseph Hamilton Kennedy, was a policeman in the Royal Irish Constabulary, which existed before the Partition of Ireland.
While growing up in Coagh, Kennedy wrote several songs and poems. He was inspired by local surroundings — the view of the Ballinderry river, the local Springhill house and the plentiful chestnut trees on his family's property, as evidenced in his poem chestnut trees. Kennedy later moved to Portstewart (a local lad!).
Kennedy graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, before teaching in England. Kennedy was accepted into the Colonial Service, as a civil servant, in 1927.
While awaiting a Colonial Service posting to the colony of Nigeria, Kennedy embarked on a career in songwriting by joining the staff of Bert Feldman, a music publisher based in London's Tin Pan Alley.
In a career spanning more than fifty years, he wrote some 2000 songs, of which over 200 became worldwide hits and about 50 are all-time popular music classics.
The basic outline over, Terry then took us through a wonderful musical AND sing-a-long journey covering the ups, downs and lesson learning milestones of Jimmy Kennedy's career - all of which is too detailed to include in full here, but included background to, excerpts from, quantities sold, monies raised (and also cheated out of!), artists connected with, dates recorded and anecdotes about these highlights.
The songs covering Jimmy Kennedy's career included:-
'The Barmaid's Song' (1929, First published song, earned £500, but lost out on £1000s earned by Feldman's music publishers)
'The Teddy Bears Picnic' (1932, but didn't get recognition for it until 1947)
'The Isle of Capri' (1934, big hit for Gracie Fields)
'Red Sails in the Sunset' (1935, original recording by Vera Lynne, copied by many other artists over the years. At one time the sheet music was selling 5,000 copies a week. It is said to be Elvis Presley's Mum's favourite song!)
'Harbour Lights' (1937, sold over 1million copies of the sheet music)
'South of the Boarder' (1939, massive hit, recorded by many groups over the next 30 years)
'My Prayer' (1939, original recorded by 'The Ink Spots'. Re-recorded in 1956 by 'The Platters' and sold 3million copies)
'The Hokey Cokey' (1942, one of the first 'feel good' party songs, made famous by Billy Cotton and his band , with Alan Breeze singing on the BBC radio)
Terry went on to talk about Kennedy's wartime experiences, which affected him badly having witnessed the plight of so many refugees and also Belsen concentration camp.
By the time Jimmy Kennedy reached his 50s, the popular music taste was changing - 'Rock and Roll' had arrived. Jimmy decided to go into semi retirement - (clearly this wasn't any financial hardship, the 'local lad' had done good! - Web Ed). However, living in Dublin in 1972 he became more concerned about what was happening in his native Northern home and wrote 'Let there be Peace', which was (and still is!) sung by many choirs in churches and chapels as well as concerts and cross community events.
Jimmy Kennedy was awarded an OBE for his services to music in 1983, and passed away in 1984. With that, Terry came to the close of his memorable presentation.
As the talk had lasted a little longer than normal, we all had to forgo a formal Q and A session. A vote of thanks was proposed by Bob McIvor, who commented on the meticulous research, excellent presentation and the chance for the members to participate in the coral interludes. All in all it was a big 'thank you' for a very enjoyable morning, and this was passed on by the President. The members showed their appreciation.
Terry thanked the club for inviting him along and giving him the opportunity to enjoy himself too. Terry wanted to add a big 'Thank You' to our audio master Ken Parkes, for all the extra effort he had put in, and with whom there would have been nothing to watch or listen to, as the PowerPoint wouldn't work when they tried it first. The members also showed their appreciation to Ken in the normal manor.
Talk by Mr Terry Anderson on 'The songs of Jimmy Kennedy'
The Club President Graham Kane took the chair and welcomed members and guests Harold Dixon as well our guest speaker's wife and sister-in-law. The President then introduced our speaker for the morning Mr. Terry Anderson, who gave a tremendous 'all singing and musical' PowerPoint presentation on the 'Songs of Jimmy Kennedy' for a fully enjoyable hour.
Terry started his talk by giving some brief details of Jimmy Kennedy's life - Kennedy was born near Omagh, in the North East part of Ireland. His father, Joseph Hamilton Kennedy, was a policeman in the Royal Irish Constabulary, which existed before the Partition of Ireland.
While growing up in Coagh, Kennedy wrote several songs and poems. He was inspired by local surroundings — the view of the Ballinderry river, the local Springhill house and the plentiful chestnut trees on his family's property, as evidenced in his poem chestnut trees. Kennedy later moved to Portstewart (a local lad!).
Kennedy graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, before teaching in England. Kennedy was accepted into the Colonial Service, as a civil servant, in 1927.
While awaiting a Colonial Service posting to the colony of Nigeria, Kennedy embarked on a career in songwriting by joining the staff of Bert Feldman, a music publisher based in London's Tin Pan Alley.
In a career spanning more than fifty years, he wrote some 2000 songs, of which over 200 became worldwide hits and about 50 are all-time popular music classics.
The basic outline over, Terry then took us through a wonderful musical AND sing-a-long journey covering the ups, downs and lesson learning milestones of Jimmy Kennedy's career - all of which is too detailed to include in full here, but included background to, excerpts from, quantities sold, monies raised (and also cheated out of!), artists connected with, dates recorded and anecdotes about these highlights.
The songs covering Jimmy Kennedy's career included:-
'The Barmaid's Song' (1929, First published song, earned £500, but lost out on £1000s earned by Feldman's music publishers)
'The Teddy Bears Picnic' (1932, but didn't get recognition for it until 1947)
'The Isle of Capri' (1934, big hit for Gracie Fields)
'Red Sails in the Sunset' (1935, original recording by Vera Lynne, copied by many other artists over the years. At one time the sheet music was selling 5,000 copies a week. It is said to be Elvis Presley's Mum's favourite song!)
'Harbour Lights' (1937, sold over 1million copies of the sheet music)
'South of the Boarder' (1939, massive hit, recorded by many groups over the next 30 years)
'My Prayer' (1939, original recorded by 'The Ink Spots'. Re-recorded in 1956 by 'The Platters' and sold 3million copies)
'The Hokey Cokey' (1942, one of the first 'feel good' party songs, made famous by Billy Cotton and his band , with Alan Breeze singing on the BBC radio)
Terry went on to talk about Kennedy's wartime experiences, which affected him badly having witnessed the plight of so many refugees and also Belsen concentration camp.
By the time Jimmy Kennedy reached his 50s, the popular music taste was changing - 'Rock and Roll' had arrived. Jimmy decided to go into semi retirement - (clearly this wasn't any financial hardship, the 'local lad' had done good! - Web Ed). However, living in Dublin in 1972 he became more concerned about what was happening in his native Northern home and wrote 'Let there be Peace', which was (and still is!) sung by many choirs in churches and chapels as well as concerts and cross community events.
Jimmy Kennedy was awarded an OBE for his services to music in 1983, and passed away in 1984. With that, Terry came to the close of his memorable presentation.
As the talk had lasted a little longer than normal, we all had to forgo a formal Q and A session. A vote of thanks was proposed by Bob McIvor, who commented on the meticulous research, excellent presentation and the chance for the members to participate in the coral interludes. All in all it was a big 'thank you' for a very enjoyable morning, and this was passed on by the President. The members showed their appreciation.
Terry thanked the club for inviting him along and giving him the opportunity to enjoy himself too. Terry wanted to add a big 'Thank You' to our audio master Ken Parkes, for all the extra effort he had put in, and with whom there would have been nothing to watch or listen to, as the PowerPoint wouldn't work when they tried it first. The members also showed their appreciation to Ken in the normal manor.
(Secretary, Mike Turner)
For further information about Jimmy Kennedy and his songs, try these links (some of which include audio clips too):-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Kennedy
http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/bio/C227
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-kennedy-mn0000035885
And, YES, you can get some songs by Jimmy Kennedy from the Apple iTunes Store for you own iPod listening!!!!
Or, 'click' the photo of Jimmy Kennedy below, to visit our own 'Songwriting Legend and Local Lad!' special page
