Newswise — The classic holiday song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is 65 years old and its enduring popularity is good news for St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York " the school receives a share of the royalties every time the song is played or performed.
One of the song's composers, Kim Gannon, graduated from St. Lawrence in 1924; he also wrote the University's alma mater. Gannon passed away in 1974 and his will stipulated that St. Lawrence receive 30 percent of the royalties from all of his compositions after his wife's death. His widow, Norma Allen Gannon, St. Lawrence Class of 1925, passed away in 2000.
So far this year, the University has received over $27,000 in royalties, and expects that the total will exceed $30,000, because December's totals have not yet been included. New versions of the song have been recorded and released by artists including Tony Bennett, Sheryl Crowe, Rascal Flatts and Brian McKnight. The first to record it was Bing Crosby, in 1943.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) states that song is among the top 25 holiday songs receiving radio airplay over the past five years; it comes in at Number 14 on this year's list. While it's been recorded by over 300 artists, the most popular version on radio is by Amy Grant, according to the organization.
A very popular composer during the "swing era," Gannon received three Academy Award nominations for his work. Of all of his songs, however, none is as popular as "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
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