PT-109 (song)
Encyclopedia
PT-109 was a song by Jimmy Dean
about the adventures of John F. Kennedy
and the crew of the PT-109
. The boat was famous even before Kennedy ran for office because it was cut in two after being rammed by a Japanese destroyer, after which came a survival story, and rescue by native islanders Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana
by canoe, though the islanders were not included in this version of the story.
In 1961 Dean had recorded "Big Bad John
," a song that would become his biggest hit ever, and echoed at the end of PT-109. It went to number one on the country and pop charts. He had five more top forty songs in 1962. PT-109 was his biggest hit in 1962, reaching the top ten as Kennedy was still president. It peaked at number three on the country chart and number eight on the pop chart. It was one of several military themed singles of the 1960s, along with the "Ballad of the Green Berets
", "Billy and Sue," "Gonna Raise A Rukus Tonight," "Sky Pilot (Part One)
" and "Soldier Boy."
Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality starting in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad...
about the adventures of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and the crew of the PT-109
Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109
PT-109 was a PT boat last commanded by Lieutenant, junior grade John F. Kennedy in the Pacific Theater during World War II...
. The boat was famous even before Kennedy ran for office because it was cut in two after being rammed by a Japanese destroyer, after which came a survival story, and rescue by native islanders Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana
Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana
Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana were indigenous people of Solomon Islands, of native Melanesian descent, who found John F. Kennedy and his surviving PT-109 crew following the boat's collision with the Japanese destroyer Amagiri near Plum Pudding Island on 1 August 1943...
by canoe, though the islanders were not included in this version of the story.
In 1961 Dean had recorded "Big Bad John
Big Bad John
"Big Bad John" is a country song originally performed by Jimmy Dean and composed by Dean and Roy Acuff. Released in September 1961, by the beginning of November it went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.The song and its...
," a song that would become his biggest hit ever, and echoed at the end of PT-109. It went to number one on the country and pop charts. He had five more top forty songs in 1962. PT-109 was his biggest hit in 1962, reaching the top ten as Kennedy was still president. It peaked at number three on the country chart and number eight on the pop chart. It was one of several military themed singles of the 1960s, along with the "Ballad of the Green Berets
Ballad of the Green Berets
"The Ballad Of The Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light, yet it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts for five...
", "Billy and Sue," "Gonna Raise A Rukus Tonight," "Sky Pilot (Part One)
Sky Pilot (song)
"Sky Pilot" is a 1968 song by Eric Burdon & The Animals, released on the album The Twain Shall Meet. When released as a single the song was split across both sides, due to its length. As "Sky Pilot " it reached number 14 on the U.S...
" and "Soldier Boy."
Chart performance
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 2 |