Today in Music (1934): Guy Lombardo “Winter Wonderland” charted

Winter Wonderland Guy Lombardo

Writer(s): Felix Bernard (music), Richard Bernhard Smith (words) (see lyrics here) First Charted: December 1, 1934 Peak: 2 BB, 4 GA, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.03 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Winter Wonderland” has been recorded more than 16000 times SH with collective sales of 40 million. TY1 Richard B. Smith was inspired to write the lyrics after seeing Honesdale’s Central Park covered in snow. WK He was being treated for tuberculosis in the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton, Pennyslvania. WK The original lyrics are about a couple’s romance during the winter season although a later version, with lyrics printed in 1947, turned it into a children’s song about playing in the snow. WK The song was first recorded on October 23, 1934 by Richard Himber and His Ritz-Carlton Orchestra with a vocal refrain by Joey Nash. SH Six days later, Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians’ recorded the song. SH Their version was the first to chart and the most successful, reaching #2. He was the leader of the only dance band to sell over 100 million records. PM He charted 217 songs from 1927 to 1954, topping the charts 26 times. PM He ranks as the #3 artist from 1890-1954, only behind Bing Crosby and Paul Whiteman. PM Other charted versions included Ted Weems (#13, 1935), Perry Como with the Satisfiers & Russ Case’s Orchestra (#10, 1946), and Johnny Mercer & the Pied Pipers (#4, 1947). PM In 1946, the Andrews Sisters reached #22 with their version in which they were backed by Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians. The flip side was “Christmas Island,” a #7, million-selling hit also by the Andrews Sisters with Lombardo. PM The song has also been recorded by Air Supply, Alabama, Herb Alpert, America, Paul Anka, Louis Armstrong, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Babyface, Tony Bennett, Michael Bolton, Pat Boone, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffett, Michael Bublé, Glen Campbell, the Carpenters, Ray Charles, Chicago, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind & Fire, the Eurythmics, Ella Fitzgerald, Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant, Al Green, Faith Hill, Lena Horne, Engelbert, Humperdinck, Billy Idol, Burl Ives, Alan Jackson, Etta James, Al Jarreau, Wynonna Judd, Sammy Kaye, Kool & the Gang, Patti LaBelle, Lady Gaga, Brenda Lee, Darlene Love, Barbara Mandrell, Barry Manilow, Dean Martin, Freddy Martin & His Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Reba McEntire, Sarah McLachlan, Bette Midler, Mitch Miller, the Miracles, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Olivia Newton-John, the Osmond Brothers, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, the Partridge Family, the Platters, Elvis Presley, REO Speedwagon, Cliff Richard, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra, Snoop Dogg, Jo Stafford, Gwen Stefani, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, George Strait, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Frankie Valli, and Andy Williams. SH Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 217. SH Second Hand Songs TY1 Don Tyler (1985). Hit Parade 1920-1955. Quill: New York, NY. Page 129. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 28, 276-81, 612, and 623. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/19/2023.