Let me start by saying that while I’ve probably been through Tennessee once or twice, it would have been when I was very young, and have no memory of it. None. So, I have no idea what Memphis is like in June or any other time of year. (Google tells me the average temperature in June is 89, with 6 days of rain.)
“Memphis in June” was written by a gentleman named Hoagy Carmichael. I remember hearing the name when I was a kid and wondering what Hoagy was short for. (Did he reallylike sandwiches?) Turns out it was short for Hoagland. Yup. His parents named him Hoagland. Apparently, there had been a circus troupe named “The Hoaglands” that had been staying with the family while his mother was pregnant with Hoagy. Perhaps this was more common back in 1899, when he was born. I could not find any explanation of why this group was staying with the family, as there was no circus connection prior to this. Hoagy’s father was a horse-drawn taxi driver and later an electrician while Mom played the piano at the silent movies and the occasional private party.
It was through his mother that young Hoagy learned how to play the piano. There were some lessons with Reginald DuValle, a black bandleader. (Hoagy was not black, so having lessons from a black man was progressive at the time.) That was the extent of his musical training.
Hoagy went on to become one of the most successful Tin Pan Alleycomposers of the time. (Tin Pan Alley refers to a specific area in New York City where popular songs were being composed from the end of the 1800s until well into the 1900s.) He also had an acting career. He even played himself (sort of!) in an episode of the then prime-time cartoon: The Flintstones.
Our song is not really about anything. There is no plot to follow, no character to delve into. This is just a slice of time, a picture of what one moment in a particular place was like. The song dates back to 1945 when Hoagy performed it in a movie, Johnny Angel, with his own orchestra.
“Memphis in June” was written by a gentleman named Hoagy Carmichael. I remember hearing the name when I was a kid and wondering what Hoagy was short for. (Did he reallylike sandwiches?) Turns out it was short for Hoagland. Yup. His parents named him Hoagland. Apparently, there had been a circus troupe named “The Hoaglands” that had been staying with the family while his mother was pregnant with Hoagy. Perhaps this was more common back in 1899, when he was born. I could not find any explanation of why this group was staying with the family, as there was no circus connection prior to this. Hoagy’s father was a horse-drawn taxi driver and later an electrician while Mom played the piano at the silent movies and the occasional private party.
It was through his mother that young Hoagy learned how to play the piano. There were some lessons with Reginald DuValle, a black bandleader. (Hoagy was not black, so having lessons from a black man was progressive at the time.) That was the extent of his musical training.
Hoagy went on to become one of the most successful Tin Pan Alleycomposers of the time. (Tin Pan Alley refers to a specific area in New York City where popular songs were being composed from the end of the 1800s until well into the 1900s.) He also had an acting career. He even played himself (sort of!) in an episode of the then prime-time cartoon: The Flintstones.
Our song is not really about anything. There is no plot to follow, no character to delve into. This is just a slice of time, a picture of what one moment in a particular place was like. The song dates back to 1945 when Hoagy performed it in a movie, Johnny Angel, with his own orchestra.
Until next time! Memphis in June
A shady veranda under a Sunday blue sky
Memphis in June
And cousin Amanda's makin' a rhubarb pie (Annie Lennox sings blueberry pie)
I can hear the clock inside tickin' and a-tockin'
Everything is peacefully dandy
I can see old granny cross the street, still a-rockin'
Watching the neighbors go by
Memphis in June
With sweet oleander blowing perfume in the air
Up jumps the moon to make it that much grander
It's paradise, brother take my advice
Nothing's half as nice as
Memphis in June
Memphis in June
With sweet oleander blowing perfume in the air
Up jumps the moon to make it that much grander
It's paradise, brother take my advice
Nothing's half as nice as Memphis in June
It has been covered by dozens of singers in the years since. Nina Simone, Sister Swing, and in 2014 by Annie Lennox. The song definitely has staying power.
Do you have a favorite song about June? Summer, in general? Let me know in the comments section below. I’ll be playing different versions of this and a few other Hoagy Carmichael songs this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so please be sure to check them out.
Until next time!
Do you have a favorite song about June? Summer, in general? Let me know in the comments section below. I’ll be playing different versions of this and a few other Hoagy Carmichael songs this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so please be sure to check them out.
Until next time!
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