History of the Carols

‘The Little Drummer Boy’

The legend of a young boy who wishes to give the newly born Christ Child a precious gift is an old one, and found in many countries. In Italy the boy has only an onion; in Spain he has an olive branch; in England he has the ability to juggle; in Holland he has a branch of freesia; in France he has his little drum.
Harry Simeone, once a choral conductor with Fred Waring, selected the latter as the basis for his winsome Christmas song titled ‘The Little Drummer Boy.’ Impulsively joining the solemn cortege of the three kings, with their splendid offerings of fragrant myrrh, pungent frankincense and gleaming gold, the boy realizes in dismay that all he has is his hand drum. Crestfallen, he nonetheless approaches the Babe in the manger and lays the drum at His feet. Only then does he notice the tender, radiant smile that appears for an instant on the face of the Holy Child. His modest gift is not without merit after all.
With its brave little melody and its “prmm, prmm, prmm” accompaniment, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ has inspired a number of best-selling recordings, chief among them Simeone’s own (in 1958) with his choral group.

Meanwhile…1958…50 years ago…in the United States…

President: Dwight D. Eisenhower…V. President: Richard M. Nixon
Bread: 19¢/loaf, Milk: 25¢/qt., Eggs: 85¢/dz., Gas: 30¢/gal., Min. wage: $1.00/hour
Top songs: ‘Don’t’ (Elvis Presley), ‘The Purple People eater’ (Sheb Wooley), ‘He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands’ (Laurie London), ‘The Chipmunk Song’ (David Seville)
TV shows: Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchock Presents, The Ed Sullivan Show
Hot New Toy in 1958: Hula-Hoop
‘Alfred Heights’ residential development in Silver Creek, NY, was begun.
At Sheridan Methodist church, during the pastorate of Rev. Wayne B. Price, the old wooden building of the church gave way to a new educational unit, which was paid for by funds derived from the ‘Lord’s Acre project’ sponsored by
‘The Methodist Men.’

Ref. RDM TimelinesOfHistory TanBible DmarieCapsule SheridanSettler