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25th National Carry A Tune Week Has Ended
Held from
Sunday, October 5, 2025
to
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Here are the list of tunes chosen by web readers
This is the only official page for this annual web event
sponsored since 2001 byAmerican Tune Lovers Society (ATLS)
"Helping to keep in tune with history"
Please help support Carry A Tune Week
by ordering any or all the audio titles on this enjoyable recording
Or order music titles from the
Center for American Music Preservation
The annual web event
"National Carry A Tune Week"
will be discontinued
unless a sponsor can be found
by 2026.
To inquire about
possible sponsorship
How did this annual tune event begin?
Back in 2001, this week was started by American music preservationist and ASCAP songwriter, Roger Hall,
to pay tribute to the victims of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It was decided to ask web readers to select favorite tunes from their past in remembrance of a loved one or some treasured event in their past life
and "carry" them in remembrance for at least one week.
National Carry A Tune Day
- Every year the Tune Day is October 7 - the birthday of the Father of American Song
William Billings - born in Boston in 1746, died in Boston in 1800.
His best known song was a favorite during the American Revolution titled,
"Chester" (1778) - possibly named after a dead patriot soldier.
The song was later arranged for band or orchestra by American composer, William Schuman, in the 20th century.
Read about William Billings - "Father of American Song" -- here
Total Number of Tunes for Carry A Tune Week
from 2001 to 2025 = 585
support Natir Tune Week.
Order any oese items:
Definitions for a "tune" --
(a) a pleasing succession of musical tones.
(b) a dominant theme.
--from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
Six Tune Categories for Tune Week:I. Patriotic -- band music, patriotic songs
II. Folk -- traditional folk, singer-songwriter
III. Religious -- sacred instrumental or vocal, spirituals, gospel music
IV. Popular -- blues, jazz, easy listening, ethnic, country, r&b, rock, disco, or other music genre
V. Classical -- songs or arias, instrumental themes but not complete large works like symphonies
VI. Film -- film score themes, movie songs
Here are 10 American tune samples
from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries
in the 6 Tune Categories
with listening links on YouTube
20th Century
Popular
"(They Long To Be) Close To You"
music by Burt Bacharach
lyrics by Hal DavidRecorded by Richard Chamberlain (1963)
Recorded by The Carpenters (1970)
The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You • TopPop - YouTube
Film
"Love And Marriage"
Emmy Award Songmusic by Jimmy Van Heusen
lyrics by Sammy CahnRecorded by Frank Sinatra (1955)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srKQvgI4RkQ
Folk
"Goodnight, Irene" (1933, 1950) - 75th anniversarywords & music by Huddie ("Leadbelly") Ledbetter and John Lomax
Recorded by The Weavers (1950)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSDyiUBrUSk
Film
"As Time Goes By"
music & lyrics by Herman Hupfeld, 1931
First recorded by Rudy Vallee (1932)Sung by Dooley Wilson in CASABLANCA film (1942)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vThuwa5RZU
Popular
"All The Things You Are" from VERY WARM FOR MAY Musical (1939)
music by Jerome Kern
lyrics by Oscar HammersteinSung by Tony Martin in the M-G-M film,
TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946)
Patriotic
"God Bless America"
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin (1938)
Sung by Kate Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvUxPIoZf4g
Popular
"Take Me Out To The Ball Game" (1908)
music by Albert Von Tilzer
lyrics by Jack Norworth
Read the centennial tribute to this popular songand listen to an early recording -- click here
19th Century
Patriotic
"The Stars And Stripes Forever March" (1896)
music by John Philip Sousa
Played by the U.S. Marine Band ("The President's Own)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7XWhyvIpE&list=RDa-7XWhyvIpE&start_radio=1
Religious & Classical
"Simple Gifts"
A. Religious song - music & lyrics by Elder Joseph Brackett (1848)
Sung by Roger Hall with Diane Schneider, harpist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gPqctSDaek&list=RD_gPqctSDaek&start_radio=1
B. Song Theme & Variations arranged by Aaron Copland
in "Appalachian Spring" score (1944)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI6RYZygevA&list=RDJI6RYZygevA&start_radio=1
Read about this popular Shaker song
click here
18th Century
Patriotic
"Yankee Doodle"
Song attributed to Edward Bangs, about 1776
Read about this popular patriotic song -- click here
From the organizer of
National Carry A Tune Week:
music and lyrics by Roger Hall
Sung by Ethel Regan (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0S4Q8Rzo5U
Read the new memoir by Roger Hall,
"Free As The Breeze:
A Songwriter's Joys and Sorrows"
-- available here
New ebook with over 100 pictures and
details about the rise of singing legend, Elvis Presley, in 1955-1956
Remembrance of Tunes Past
Carry A Tune Week -- Past Tunes, 2001-2024
2024 was the anniversary
of the birth of Henry Mancini (1924-1994)A Centennial Tribute to Henry Mancini
The 2015 Tune Week was dedicated to
one of the best known popular American singers
on the 100th anniversary year of his birth...
A Centennial Remembrance of Frank Sinatra
Useful information for movie fans
A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores
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To contact Carry A Tune Week -- click here
Read about this Carry A Tune Week at National Day Calendar -- click here
Please help support National Carry A Tune Week
Order your CDs from the
American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)
This webpage is copyright by PineTree Production 2001-2025
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