"Popular Song & WWII" on Afterglow

[ghost of miles]

This Memorial Day weekend on Afterglow we presented "American Popular Song and World War II," with special guest Michael McGerr, author, cultural historian, and Indiana University professor; the show is now archived for online listening. Music selections included some of the martial-spirited songs from the early months of America's entry into the war ("Remember Pearl Harbor" and "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"), as well as pre-war songs about the draft, songs about rationing and shortages, songs about the separation of lovers, and much more, such as radio news broadcasts from Dec. 7, 1941 and D-Day. Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, Bing Crosby with Glenn Miller's AAF, Jazz Gillum, Helen Forrest, Kitty Kallen, and Fats Waller are among the artists featured on the program.

For more sounds of World War II, visit the University of Missouri-Kansas City's audio archive. You can also view their online collection of World War II sheet music here. Happy Memorial Day weekend to all.

Edited May 27, 2007 by ghost of miles

[ghost of miles]

Up for Memorial Day.