You may have a vague recollection that a Marietta native was Vice President of the United States. It's true. Charles Gates Dawes of the prominent Dawes family was serving as VP exactly 100 years ago under President Calvin Coolidge. He was an austere-looking dude, smart (Marietta College graduate), and dedicated to public service. Dawes was the 10th Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) from 1898-1901, at age 33 the youngest person in that role.
The OCC website aptly describes him as "a man of enormous and varied talents: lawyer, engineer, scholar, financier, businessman, diplomat, and politician. He was also a self-taught pianist, flutist, and composer, whose melodies are performed even today (italics added)." Fascinating that his musical talents are mentioned. So, did he write hit music as the words in italics suggest?
He wrote a tune in 1912 with the generic sounding title of "Melody in A Major" that became popular in the 1920's. Dawes was indeed an accomplished amateur musician. He said the "Melody" composition was based on a tune that he couldn't get out of his head. Fritz Kreisler, a renowned violinist, and others recorded it. What did Charles G. Dawes think of “his” song performed by others? He was flattered when it was played in his honor at events but complained that some arrangements of it "manhandled" the tune. A self-deprecating Dawes, who was also a banker, implied in a speech that his musical notes were maybe not as solid as the (financial) notes held in his bank.
Fast forward to 1951, sadly the year that Charles Dawes died; songwriter Carl Sigman rearranged the melody and added lyrics. It became "It's All in the Game." In 1958, Tommy Edwards became the first Black artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. with his rock and roll ballad recording of the song. Over the years it turned into a pop classic performed by dozens of artists. The soulful lyrics suggest that ups and downs in life’s situations are to be expected. That matches pretty well with Charles Dawes’ pragmatic nature.
Interestingfacts.com: “…Dawes remains the only chief executive — president or vice president — to score a hit on the Billboard Hot 100." So, the earlier quote about the Dawes' song being "performed even today" is true. OK, the song itself was not actually written by Dawes but inspired by his "Melody in A Major." When you hear this song, think Charles Dawes, Marietta native, and his many accomplishments.
Other presidents had musical talents. President Bill Clinton grooved away with his sax. Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Jefferson were violinists. Harry Truman was an excellent pianist. He once joked that his "bad" piano playing coerced Joseph Stalin into signing the Potsdam Agreement in 1945. Perhaps President Donald Trump can use music as he negotiates with foreign leaders - a thundering version of Y-M-C-A (a favorite campaign rally song) perhaps?
I welcome ideas for these history articles. This one came from my wife Suzanne when she saw an article from interestingfacts.com. Thank you, dear!
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