My Shining Hour
Encyclopedia
"My Shining Hour" is a song composed by Harold Arlen
, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer
. It was written for the 1943 film The Sky's the Limit, where it was introduced by Sally Sweetland - who dubbed for Joan Leslie
- backed by Freddie Slack
and his orchestra. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. The song became a hit, in a version recorded by Glen Gray
with Eugenie Baird as vocalist, but only slowly, taking four months to achieve recognition on Your Hit Parade
having entered the charts on January 22, 1944 (the film was premiered on September 2, 1943).
The song's title, and opening line: "This will be my shining hour", is believed to have been a reference to Winston Churchill
's famous rallying call to British citizens during the war: "This will be our finest hour".
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
. It was written for the 1943 film The Sky's the Limit, where it was introduced by Sally Sweetland - who dubbed for Joan Leslie
Joan Leslie
Joan Leslie is a retired American film and television actress.-Early life:Leslie was born Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel in Detroit, Michigan, and raised Roman Catholic. She began performing as a singer at the age of nine as part of a vaudeville act with her two sisters; Betty and Mae Brodel...
- backed by Freddie Slack
Freddie Slack
Frederick Charles Slack was an American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader.He played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in the 1930s and was a charter member of the Will Bradley Orchestra when it formed in 1939...
and his orchestra. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. The song became a hit, in a version recorded by Glen Gray
Glen Gray
Glen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, was a jazz saxophonist and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra....
with Eugenie Baird as vocalist, but only slowly, taking four months to achieve recognition on Your Hit Parade
Your Hit Parade
Your Hit Parade, is an American radio and television music program that was broadcast from 1935 to 1955 on radio, and seen from 1950 to 1959 on television. It was sponsored by American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes. During this 24-year run, the show had 19 orchestra leaders and 52 singers or...
having entered the charts on January 22, 1944 (the film was premiered on September 2, 1943).
The song's title, and opening line: "This will be my shining hour", is believed to have been a reference to Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's famous rallying call to British citizens during the war: "This will be our finest hour".
Notable recordings
- Betty CarterBetty CarterBetty Carter was an American jazz singer renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style...
- 'Round MidnightRound Midnight (1969 album)Round Midnight is a 1975 live album by Betty Carter. It was recorded at the same 1969 concert as her album Finally, Betty Carter. It is not to be confused with Carter's similarly titled 1963 studio album, Round Midnight.-Track listing:...
(1969) - June ChristyJune ChristyJune Christy , born Shirley Luster, was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool...
- The Song Is June!The Song Is June!The Song Is June! is a 1958 album by June Christy recorded with Pete Rugolo’s Orchestra. It was re-issued in 1997 as a double-CD together with Off-Beat.-Track listing:# “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” – 4:13...
(1958), ImpromptuImpromptu (June Christy album)Impromptu - June Christy with The Lou Levy SextetJune Christy’s final album, recorded in 1977.# "My Shining Hour" – 3:20# "Once Upon a Summertime" – 4:47...
(1977) - John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
- Coltrane JazzColtrane Jazz (album)Coltrane Jazz is the sixth album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1354. It marks the first appearance of the early John Coltrane Quartet on record, featuring pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones....
(1961) - Sammy Davis, Jr.Sammy Davis, Jr.Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
- Our Shining HourOur Shining HourOur Shining Hour is a 1965 studio album by Sammy Davis, Jr., accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra, arranged by Quincy Jones.In 1973 Davis re-recorded his vocal lines from Our Shning Hour, it was released by MGM Records as Sammy Davis Jr...
(1965) - Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook is a 1961 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Billy May...
VerveVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
(1961) - Eydie GormeEydie GorméEydie Gormé is an American singer, specializing, with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in traditional pop music, in the form of ballads and breezy swing. She has earned numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Emmy...
- Alone Together (1990) - Glen GrayGlen GrayGlen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, was a jazz saxophonist and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra....
- vocal Eugenie Baird (1944) - Peggy LeePeggy LeePeggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
- Love Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold ArlenLove Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold ArlenLove Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold Arlen is a 1988 album by Peggy Lee, released in 1993.-Track listing:Love Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold Arlen is a 1988 album by Peggy Lee, released in 1993....
(recorded 1988, released 1993) - Chuck LoebChuck LoebChuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz....
- My Shining Hour (2002) - Liza MinnelliLiza MinnelliLiza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
- It Amazes MeIt Amazes MeIt Amazes Me is the title of Liza Minnelli's second solo studio album, released in March 1965 by Capitol Records. It contained her interpretations of eleven pop standards....
(1965) - Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
- Trilogy: Past Present FutureTrilogy: Past Present FutureTrilogy: Past Present Future is a 1980 triple album by the American singer Frank Sinatra. This album produced the last of Sinatra's many signature numbers, "Theme from New York, New York."...
(1980) - Barbra StreisandBarbra StreisandBarbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
- Live In Concert 2006Live in Concert 2006Live in Concert 2006 is a live album by Barbra Streisand which was recorded during her record setting 2006 U.S. tour known as Streisand: The Tour. The double album contains songs recorded at different shows and venues including New York's Madison Square Garden and Washington DC's Verizon Center...
(released 2007)