The Little Drummer Boy

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For the British musical group, see Drummer Boy. For the David Bowie and Bing Crosby version, see Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.

"The Little Drummer Boy" is a popular Christmas song, with words and music by Katherine K. Davis.^[1] Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone have been credited with writing the song, even though they were only the arrangers for their recordings of it.^[2] The version that made the song popular was the one sung and recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale. It is also known as the "Carol of the Drum".^[2]

Davis first composed the words and music for "Carol of the Drum" (ostensibly transcribed from a traditional Czech carol) in 1941. ^[3] In 1957 Onorati arranged the song for a recording by the Jack Halloran Singers on Dot Records, but this version was not released in time for Christmas. The following year Simeone re-arranged the song yet again and retitled it for his Chorale's hit single version, which was issued on 20th Fox Records' 45-121 with a 45rpm picture sleeve, then on their LP called Sing We Now of Christmas, which became an enormous bestseller. In 1963 the company, now known as 20th Century Fox Records, retitled and reissued their album. It was now called The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival, in order to boost sales even higher, as the 45-rpm single had continued to be a seasonal hit. The LP record jacket, presumably misleadingly, boasted the credit Original Version in reference to the song. The album was first issued only in mono, then in stereo a year later. In the 1980s, it was released on CD by Casablanca Records with the 1963 re-issue title, but without the "original version" credit. Harry Simeone signed to Kapp Records in 1964 and recorded a new version of "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1965 on Kapp K-711 with a 45rpm picture sleeve. This version came from his new album O' Bambino-The Little Drummer Boy [Kapp 1450(mono) / 3450(stereo)] .

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Television special 3 Variations and covers 4 Notes 5 External links 5.1 Television Special

[edit] Synopsis

The lyrics tell the apocryphal story of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary's approval. Miraculously, the baby, although a newborn, seems to understand and smiles at the boy in gratitude. The story is somewhat similar to an old twelfth-century legend retold by Anatole France as Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (French: The Juggler of Notre Dame), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the statue, according to which version of the legend one reads, either smiles at him or throws him a rose (or both, as in the 1984 made-for-television film).

[edit] Television special

In 1968, Rankin-Bass produced a stop motion animated Christmas television special based on The Little Drummer Boy. The film names the drummer boy Aaron and expands the song's storyline to include events before the birth of Jesus. It stars the voices of Greer Garson as "Our Storyteller" and Jose Ferrer as Ben Haramad; it also features the Vienna Boys' Choir singing the title song. It aired for many years on NBC (under original sponsorship of the American Gas Association (AGA)) before entering syndication. It currently airs in the U.S. on the ABC Family cable channel.

A television sequel, titled The Little Drummer Boy, Book II, premiered in 1976, also on NBC, again sponsored by the AGA, again narrated by Greer Garson, and also currently airing on ABC Family. This time the sequel co-starred Zero Mostel as the voice of Ben Haramad. NBC stopped airing the program after many complaints of Anti-Arabism.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Variations and covers

The popularity of this song is to be seen by the quantity of cover versions of The Little Drummer Boy - a total amount of over 220 versions in 7 languages are known, in all kind of music genres. The song has been performed by classical orchestras, choral groups (both classical and popular), easy-listening stylists, rappers, rock groups and so on.

• Rosemary Clooney recorded a version of the song.
• The Trapp Family Singers, whose life story provided some inspiration for Rodgers and Hammerstein in their musical The Sound of Music, recorded a song titled "Carol of the Drum" (identified on the Decca record jacket as a "Czech carol") prior to their 1955 retirement. This song has the same melody as "The Little Drummer Boy", and the text is the same as that given in the main article except for the line "The ox and lamb kept time". The Trapp Family Singers recording has "The ox and ass kept time", instead.
• In 1958, the Harry Simeone recording rose to #13 on the pop charts, despite its late issue date in November. Jim Jensen and John Cahill of KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, made it their pick-of-the-week as soon as they heard it, becoming the first deejays in this country to promote the recording as a pop hit.
• In 1962, The Ray Conniff Singers recorded the song as part of a medley with "Jolly Old St. Nicholas", for their album We Wish You a Merry Christmas. In 1967 the "Little Drummer Boy" portion of the medley was released as a single, paired with Conniff's 1959 recording of "White Christmas".
• In 1964, Marlene Dietrich recorded a German version of the song ("Der Trommelmann").
• In 1965, Vince Guaraldi did a jazz piano arrangement titled "My Little Drum", for his soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
• In 1965, Nana Mouskouri recorded a French version of the song ("L'enfant au tambour").
• In 1972, it was featured on the television special Christmas at the White House. The song was reportedly the favorite Christmas carol of President Richard Nixon.
• In 1977, one of the more popular versions of this song was recorded for a Crosby Christmas special: "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" duet by the unusual pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This version reappears annually in holiday music rotations.
• In 1981, a cover of this song by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts concluded the album I Love Rock N' Roll when it was released in December. However, after the holiday season passed, the track was replaced by another song.
• In 1984, an Italian version was recorded by I Cavalieri del Re, an Italian band that specialised in cartoon's songs.
• In 1987, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band covered this song. His version very noticeably excludes all religious names or references (e.g. "then, he nodded" instead of "Mary nodded" ... "little baby, I am a poor boy too" instead of "baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too." This was the version used by Johnny Cash and Neil Young on Ben Keith's Seven Gates album (1994). Young has said in interviews he is not Christian but believes in the Great Spirit.
• In 1996, Apocalyptica covered the song as a single.
• In 1988, Mannheim Steamroller included a version on their second Christmas album, A Fresh Aire Christmas.
• In 1998, The Christian Rock Band Whiteheart did a spine-tingling version on CHRISTMAS (1988 Sparrow), a Sparrow Artists Christmas album.
• In 1991, the Italian version by Al Bano & Romina Power titled "Il Piccolo Tamburino".
• In 1991, a Parody version by The Boys (recording as "The Yobs") titled "Rub-a-Dum-Dum".
• In 1991, jazz guitarist Tuck Andress recorded an instrumental version on his album "Hymns, Carols and Songs about Snow". This version is notable because it was recorded, as the rest of the album, in a single studio take, with no production. Andress does an impressive rendering of a "drum" on his guitar.
• In 1993, Episode 246 of the Animaniacs featured the Warners following the star of Bethlehem to the birthplace of Jesus. They have no gift, so Wakko plays the drums and the Warners sing the song "Little Drummer Boy"^[4]
• In 1994, The Dandy Warhols recorded the first of two versions of the song. The first was released on Tim/Kerr Records. The second version was released by Capitol Records in 1997.
• In 1995, the alternative rock band, Jars of Clay has recorded the song on their EP "Drummer Boy." They recorded the song the second time on their full length "Christmas Songs (album)" in 1997.
• In 1998, Alicia Keys recorded a version titled "Little Drummer Girl" for Jermaine Dupri Presents Twelve Soulful Nights Of Christmas. this version offered modified lyrics and music. It was recorded before her label change and subsequent breakthrough hit "Fallin'".
• In 1998, German punk band Die Toten Hosen published the album Wir warten auf's Christkind under the pseudonym Die Roten Rosen. Among other Christmas songs, there is also a version of "The Little Drummer Boy".
• In 1999, Duluth, Minnesota band Low published the EP Christmas, a collection of assorted Christmas classics reworked in their own inimitable style, including a version of "Little Drummer Boy".
• In 1999, The West Wing's first christmas episode, "In Excelsis Deo", featured a boys choir singing the song over a funeral service. The episode went on to win multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Aaron Sorkin & Rick Cleveland and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series by Richard Schiff.
• In 2000, the song The Little Drummer Boy was recorded by Yolanda Adams for her seventh studio album Christmas With Yolanda Adams.
• In 2000, Charlotte Church covered The Little Drummer Boy in her christmas album "Dream a Dream".
• In 2001, Destiny's Child covered the song in their holiday album "8 Days of Christmas".
• In 2002, a Parody version by Bob Rivers titled "The Little Hooters Girl" was relased as part of his White Trash Christmas album.
• In 2003, King Diamond's album The Puppet Master had an extract from The Little Drummer Boy in the song Christmas.
• In 2003, Whitney Houston and her daughter did a cover of the song "Little Drummer boy" on Houston's album "One Wish: The Holiday Album"
• In 2004 Art Paul Schlosser released a version of the song called "Kazoo Boy" on his album The ABCs of Art Paul Schlosser World. Schlosser's version uses Kazoo instead drum on the "rum pum pum pum" parts.
• In 2004, Jessica Simpson did a cover of Little Drummer Boy in her album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album
• In 2005 Boyz II Men recorded their rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" on their Christmas album Winter/Reflections. This particular versions is colorfully sang with fluid harmonies and the story of the song and the birth of Christ. http://www.imeem.com/seizethemoment88/music/ot0oo8M7/boyz-ii-men-little-drummer-boy/
• In 2005, Bryan Duncan and the NehoSoul Band recorded the song on their A NehoSoul Christmas album.
• In 2005, Dwight Schrute briefly performed the song in the pilot episode of The Office. In 2006, Angela performs the song as karaoke in Episode 39.
• In 2006, Alfio recorded a version in English and the Sicilian dialect of Italian for the Christmas Edition of his debut album Tranquillita.
• In 2006, Celtic Woman did a version of the song in their Christmas show, in a duet with Orla Fallon and Chloe Agnew. The version included a choir and a real drummer.
• In 2006, Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices choir released a version of the Little Drummer Boy on their Grammy-Award winning album, A Christmas Celebration. This version of the song features a chorus of drums and a very young soloist.
• In 2007 Featured in a Dutch translation by Jan Rot on the Christmas album 'Vrolijk Kerstfeest' by An + Jan.
• In 2008 The Almost(feat.Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie) recorder a cover for their acoustic Ep 'No Gift To Bring'(Tooth And Nail Records)
• In 2008, Terry Wogan & Aled Jones recorded a cover of the duet Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth (originally performed by Bing Crosby and David Bowie in 1977) on the charity album Bandaged. After a brief campaign amongst listeners of BBC Radio 2, instigated by Chris Evans to get the song released as a single for Christmas in aid of Children In Need, it was released as a single on 8th December 2008, reaching #3 in the UK Top 40. ^[5]
• In 2008, Doug Pinnick, George Lynch, Billy Sheehan & Simon Phillips on the 2008 album We Wish you a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year.
• In 2008, St Agnes Fountain (Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention, Julie Matthews, David Hughes & Chris While) recorded a version under the title The Carol Of The Drum.
• In 2008, several cover versions featuring Barack Obama appeared on YouTube^[6][7].
• Raphael performed another well-known version of this carol with the Spanish title of "El tamborilero" ("The drummer"). In Spain this carol is sung in the traditional Christmas Eve Mass.
• In 2008 Faith Hill covered the song on her Joy To The World album.
• In 2009 Sean Kingston covered the song for the christmas album A Very Special Christmas Vol.7
• Litli Trommuleikarinn is the title of the Icelandic version.
• Robert Wendel arranged a great, purely instrumental adaptation in the style of Ravel's Boléro which was (also?) recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops on the CD "Christmas Time Is Here".
• "Little Drummer Boy" / "6 Years of Boney M. Hits (Boney M. on 45)" is a single by German band Boney M., taken off their 1981 album Christmas Album. "Little Drummer Boy" - the last song to feature dancer Bobby Farrell - peaked at #20 in the German charts. The B-side, a Stars on 45 type medley of Boney M. hits was flipped as the A-side January 1982 and became a Spanish Top 10 hit single. "Little Drummer Boy" was only released as a single in Germany, Canada and Scandinavia.
• The Brady Bunch covered the song on their 1970 album Christmas with The Brady Bunch.
• In 2009 Lukas Rossi covered this song and made it available for download on his web page.
• Bob Dylan covered the song for his 2009 Christmas album Christmas in the Heart.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

[edit] Television Special

• The Little Drummer Boy at Keyframe - the Animation Resource
• The Little Drummer Boy at the Internet Movie Database
• Lyrics to The Little Drummer Boy

v • d • e Rankin/Bass TV specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer • Return to Oz • The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show • The Ballad of Smokey the Bear • The Cricket on the Hearth • The Mouse on the Mayflower • The Little Drummer Boy • Frosty the Snowman • Mad Monster Party? • The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians • Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town • Here Comes Peter Cottontail • The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes • Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters • Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea • Red Baron • That Girl in Wonderland • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas • The Year Without a Santa Claus • The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow • The First Easter Rabbit • Frosty's Winter Wonderland • Rudolph's Shiny New Year • The Little Drummer Boy, Book II • The Easter Bunny is Comin' To Town • The Hobbit • Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey • The Stingiest Man in Town • Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July • Jack Frost • The Return of the King • Pinocchio's Christmas • The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold •The Coneheads • Wind in the Willows • The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus • The Flight of Dragons • Santa Baby! The 25 Days of Christmas