We celebrate a special birthday this week. The number is not so special except that she has never been this age before, but the person is very special.
Lisa’s birthday follows on the heels of Mother’s Day and undoubtedly the song “Happy Birthday to You” will be sung at least once. It’s a given.
That got me to thinking of where that song originated.
Apparently it was first “officially” written in the late 1900s by a pair of kindergarten teachers who titled it “Good Morning to All” and sang it to the students every morning.
Teachers Mildred and Patty Hill are recorded in history as the co-composers of the festive song millions sing on the special days.
It was first published in a songbook in 1924, 31 years after the lyrics were sang in that classroom in Kentucky. A copyright ensued, originating with a third sister, Jessica Hill who secured a copyright in 1934 leading to the song being one of the most lucrative songs of all time.
Warner Music gained ownership of the song and collected an average of $2 per year with half of that money going to the Hill Foundation. That was until 1991. Apparently the Hills did not properly renew the copyright in the Sixties.
Happy Birthday is now in the public domain and it can be expected to be heard (royalty free) far more frequently on films, advertisements and TV shows.
Friday it will be sang at our house.
