 | The Band Played OnDan Quinn |
Writer(s): Charles B. Ward (music), John F. Palmer (words) (see lyrics here) First Charted: August 24, 1895 Peak: 110 PM (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.05 video, 0.01 streaming |
Awards (Quinn):Click on award for more details. 
Awards (Lombardo):
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About the Song:“The Band Played On,” also known as “Casey Would Waltz with a Strawberry Blonde,” was witten and published in 1895. The lyrics were by John F. Palmer, who was inspired by German brass bands that played in the streets of New York City. TY2 He sold his rights to the song to vaudevillian, Charles B. Ward who introduced it at Hammerstein’s Harlem Opera House. SS Ward published the song and credited Palmer with the lyrics and himself with the music, but is largely agreed that Palmer was almost entirely responsible for the music as well. SS It was considered unusual in that the verses are in 2/4 time and the chorus is in 3/4 time typically associated with a waltz. WK It became a pop standard. In fact, “few songs of the 1890s remain as well-rememebered today.” SS Baritone singer Dan Quinn recorded it in 1895 and it went to #1. He was “one of the first singers to achieve fame through phonograph records, which were still a novelty when he made his first cylinder tests in 1892.” SS He and George Gaskin and Len Spencer were the top three vocal recording stars of the 1890s. Quinn recorded more than 2500 songs over a 20-year career. He had 34 chart entries of which 17 went to #1. “The Band Played On” was his biggest hit, spending 10 weeks on top. PM The song was revived in 1941 for the movie The Strawberry Blonde, starring James Cagney and Rita Hayworth. That led to renewed interest in the song and Guy Lombardo recorded it and took it to #1 in 1941. That same year, the Jesters had a #22 hit with the song. PM
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First posted 5/14/2025. |
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