Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2002

DEAR JERRY: I am a British lady who in 1942, at age 19, married a 23-year-old Canadian Hurricane fighter pilot named Jerry. At this time, World War II activity was really peaking.

Six weeks after we married, while taking part in a night raid, Jerry was reported missing. He never did return from that mission.

Though devastated, I consoled myself somewhat with two of the records that he had given to me. One is “It's Always You,” by a male singer. The other is “I'll See You Again,” from a movie that we saw together.

After 60 years, I cannot recall the names of the recording artists for either of these. Can you tell me about them? I remain in love with Jerry and believe he still watches over me. And I know that you will do your best.
—Joan G. Blust, St. Petersburg, Fla.

DEAR JOAN: Many songs exist with these same titles. Yet by providing the correct time period, I believe I can pinpoint the ones you found so comforting in a time of need.

The best known version of “It's Always You,” written in 1941 by Johnny Burke (words) and Jimmy Van Heusen (music), is by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Then the featured vocalist with the Dorsey band was a young fellow Tommy had just hired the year before (1940), named Frank Sinatra.

“It's Always You” is one of the tunes featured in the 1941 Bob Hope-Bing Crosby-Dorothy Lamour film, “The Road to Zanzibar.” It is Bing Crosby singing it in this movie.

As for “I'll See You Again,” the 1940 film containing this song is “Bitter Sweet.” On the screen, it is performed by Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy.


DEAR JERRY: In late 1960 there was a popular song by the Blue Something-Or-Others, It has the opening verse “I don't know what it is.”

Can you help me find the title and artist of this song? I need it for completion of a music project. This is really a tough one and no one seems to know a thing about it. I figured I would just turn to the best for the answer.
—Don Hanson, Great Falls, Mont.

DEAR DON: Your faith is hereby rewarded since I do know what it is. The group is the Bluenotes and the title is “I Don't Know What It Is” (Brooke 111).

Since you are working on a research project, you might want to adjust the release date by one year. This smooth tune became a hit in late 1959.

DEAR JERRY: I occasionally hear a reference to a singer being in the Juno Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, they don't offer any explanation about the Juno Hall.

There are endless award shows on TV, so this one may rank there somewhere with the Billboard and MTV awards.

What can you tell us about the Juno Hall of Fame? Who are the members that I might know?
—Denise Boone, York, Pa.

DEAR DENISE: Created in 1970, the Juno is now Canada's top music award. Their Toronto Hall of Fame enshrines some of that country's all-time great performers.

There are many Canadian stars among the esteemed Juno Hall of Famers. Some names you will likely recognize are: Paul Anka, Guy Lombardo, Hank Snow, Oscar Petersen, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, the Guess Who, the Band, Anne Murray, David Clayton Thomas, Maynard Ferguson, and Bruce Cockburn.

IZ ZAT SO? Though the pronunciation is unchanged, the original spelling of the name is Juneau — like the city in Alaska but actually named for Pierre Juneau, then the head of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission. When the Juneau powers that be discovered J-u-n-o to be the name of the Chief Goddess of the Roman Pantheon — the mythological protectress of women and patroness of matronly virtues — they permanently adopted that spelling.






Return to "Mr. Music" Home Page