The Little Drummer Boy
Year: 1941
Written By: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
The Christmas song, originally called Carol of the Drum, was
written musician Katherine Davis in 1941 and based upon a 12th
century French legend. In 1957, the music was re-written by
Henry Onorati and recorded by the Jack Halloran Singers.
The lyrics tell the story of a poor little boy who is upset
because he has no money to buy a present for the baby Jesus.
He decides instead to play a song on his drum. Mary,
baby Jesus, and the animals nearby all enjoy listening to his
song.
In 1958, a friend of Mr. Onorati was looking for a song to record
for a Christmas album he was creating. Mr. Onorati told him
about Carol of the Drum. His friend, Harry Simeone, re-wrote
the musical arrangement and recorded it with the Harry Simeone
Chorale group for the album, Sing We Now Of Christmas, and entitled
the song The Little Drummer Boy.
The album and the song were a huge success; the song remained on
the popular music charts from 1958 to 1962! Due to the
popularity of the song, the album was re-released under the title
The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival song tells the story
of a young boy who is too poor to buy a gift for the Baby Jesus.
Instead, he decides to play his drum for the Baby. Mary
and Baby Jesus are happy with his gift, as are the animals in the
stable.
In 1965, Harry Simeone recorded a new version of the song for his
album O'Bambino-The Little Drummer Boy. In 1968, an animated
television Christmas special was created that was based upon the
song.
In 1955, The Trapp Family singers recorded a song called Carol of
the Drum, which was almost identical to the lyrics of The Little
Drummer Boy except for one line. According to the album
jacket, the song is a "Czech carol". The Trapp Singers were a
popular music group and the musical The Sound Of Music was based
upon their lives.
Numerous other artists have recorded the song including The
Crusaders, Bing Crosby, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Rosemary
Clooney, and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, New Kids On The Block,
Miriah Carey, and Faith Hill. The song was also featured on a
White House Christmas special in 1972 and was reported to be
Richard Nixon's favorite Christmas Carol. The Brady Bunch, a
group of 6 children who appeared on a popular American television
sitcom in the 1960's and 1970's, also sang the song on a Christmas
album that they recorded in 1970.