Tune In!
National Carry A Tune Week is listed
in this popular annual directory:
Chase's Calendar of Events 2013 --
look under - Sunday, October 6
Help support National Crry A Tune Week.
Order any of these items:
Help support National Carry A Tune Week.
Order any of these publications:


Glory, Hallelujah:
Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era

"In The Mood"
Radio Highlights 1930s, '40s, 50s

"Millennial Praise"
Singing in Earlier America
From The Pilgrims To The Shakers
See also these listings:
50 Song Hits of 1962
50 song hits from 1961
50 song hits from 1960
50 song hits from 1959
50 song hits from 1958
50 song hits from 1957
50 song hits from 1956
13th Annual
National Carry A Tune Week
October 6-12, 2013
14th Annual
National Carry A Tune Week
October 5 - 11, 2014

This is a Free Online Event
sponsored by
The Tune Lovers Society
Definitions for a "tune" --
(a) a pleasing succession of musical tones: Melody.
(b) a dominant theme.
--from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.
Rules for this annual online event
National Carry A Tune Week is meant to be enjoyable and fun. Yet, it can also have a more serious side, like picking a tune in memory of a lost loved one.
Some people don't like rules, but the rules for Carry A Tune Week are designed to provide a way of classifying tunes for this annual event and not meant to punish those who don't know which category to put their tunes. When in doubt you can leave out the information about songwriters or dates.
Do you have favorite tunes that have special meaning for you?
You might pick favorite tunes from your school days, from a love relationship, in memory of a departed family member or friend, or any other time from your past.
This week is designed for those (especially adults) who want to recall some of the favorite tunes from their past and "carry" them that week to remember fond memories, like favorite old photos.
This week can also be of educational value in schools to teach the students about the value of music in American history.
There is no money involved in entering this survey but you must follow the rules to qualify for listing on this site and to possibly win a Free CD.
To be eligible to win the CD, you must send in comments (please be brief) about your tune choices.
To be eligible for the CD, send in your tune list and your full name -- only your first name will be listed on this site unless you prefer to remain anonymous.
This is a Free Worldwide Event and open to other countries in addition to the U.S.A.
You don’t need to be a singer or an instrumentalist to take part, but musicians and music teachers are especially asked to take part and encourage their friends and students to participate.
This event is intended to focus on American music from the past so all tunes must be American in origin from 2001 or before. You can select up to ten favorite tunes from one or more of the following categories -- if you are not sure of the category or the songwriters, leave them blank:
I. Patriotic Music -- band music, patriotic songs
II. Folk Music -- traditional, contemporary singer-songwriter
III. Religious Music -- sacred, gospel
IV. Popular Music -- jazz, easy listening, theater, country, rock, etc.
V. Classical Music -- classical themes, concert songs
VI. Film Music -- film score themes, movie songs
See sample tunes from each category below and the gallery of sheet music covers.
Musicians are encouraged to perform at least one American tune in commemoration of National Carry A Tune Week in their concerts or elsewhere.
Teachers are urged to choose one or more American tunes for that week to teach their students more about it or ask them to find out about a particular tune and if possible also perform it.
Listeners are asked to sing or play one or more favorite American tunes that week at home, in their car, at work, while exercising, or elsewhere.
Remember, this next event will be -- October 6-12, 2013
Join in on the fun and if you send in your brief comments about the tunes you might win a Free CD!

Click on this link to see a list of 200 tunes:
Survey of Essential American Songs, 1759-1961
A few sample titles
in each category
(feel free to pick your own tunes)
I. Patriotic Music:
"America the Beautiful"
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"God Bless America"
"Stars and Stripes Forever March"
II. Folk Music:
Woody Guthrie: "This Land is Your Land"
Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly): "Goodnight, Irene"
Bob Dylan: "Blowin' in the Wind"
Pete Seeger: "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"
III. Religious Music:
Folk hymn:
"Amazing Grace"
Shaker song: "Simple Gifts"
(Elder Joseph Brackett)
Afro-American spiritual:
"Lift Every Voice and Sing"
(J. Rosamond Johnson)
Gospel song:
"(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley"
(Thomas A. Dorsey)
IV. Popular Music:
George and Ira Gershwin: "Someone To Watch Over Me"
Hoagy Carmichael: "Star Dust"
Duke Ellington: "Solitude"
Harold Arlen: "Blues In The Night"
Hank Williams: "Cold, Cold Heart"
Cole Porter: "True Love"

V. Classical Music:
Leonard Bernstein: "Glitter and Be Gay" from CANDIDE
Aaron Copland: "Simple Gifts (Shaker song)"
William Arms Fisher: "Goin' Home (Dvorak theme) "
George Gershwin: "Summertime" from PORGY AND BESS

VI. Film Music (Themes and Songs):
Alex North: SPARTACUS (Love Theme)
John Williams: STAR WARS (Main Theme)
Johnny Mercer-David Raksin: "Laura"
Herman Hupfeld: "As Time Goes By"
Gallery of Sheet Music Covers
1900 - 1910
Song: "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"
Words by Jack Norworth/
Music by Albert Von Tilzer (1908)
1911-1919
Song: Alexander's Ragtime Band (1911)
Words & Music by Irving Berlin
Song: "Swanee"
Words by Irving Caesar/
Music by George Gershwin (1919)
Introduced by Al Jolson in the stage musical, SINBAD
1920-1929
Song: "Baby Face"
Words & Music: Benny Davis and Harry Akst (1926)

Song: "You Were Meant For Me"
Words by Arthur Freed/
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
from the Oscar-winning movie musical,
THE BROADWAY MELODY (1929)
Song: "Pennies From Heaven"
Music by Arthur Johnston/
Words by Johnny Burke
from the movie of the same title
starring Bing Crosby (1936)
1940-1949
Song:: "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive"
Music: Harold Arlen/ Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
sung by Bing Crosby in the movie musical,
HERE COME THE WAVES (1944)

Song:: "At Last"
Music by Harry Warren/
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
featured in the movie with Glenn Miller and His Band,
ORCHESTRA WIVES (1942)

Song:: "When You Wish Upon A Star"
Music by Leigh Harline
Words by Ned Washington
Oscar-winning song sung by Cliff Edwards
in the Walt Disney animated movie,
PINOCCHIO (1940)
1950-1959

Song: "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)"
Words & Music by Larry Russell, Inez James, Buddy Pepper
Hit record by Les Paul and Mary Ford (1953)

Song: "Loving You"
Words & Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
from the movie with the same title with Elvis Presley
(1957)

Song:: "Peter Gunn Theme"
Music by Henry Mancini
featured in the television series,
First Grammy Award - Album of the Year (1958)
1960-1969

Song: "Moon River"
Words by Johnny Mercer/ music by Henry Mancini
Oscar-winning song from
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961)

Song:: "Call Me Irresponsible"
Words by Sammy Cahn/ Music by James Van Heusen
Oscar-winning song from the film,
PAPA'S DELICATE CONDITION (1963)

Song: "The Shadow Of Your Smile"
Music by Johnny Mandel/
Words by Paul Francis Webster
Oscar-winning song from the film,
THE SANDPIPER (1965)
1970-1979
Song: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"
Music & Lyrics: Stevie Wonder (1972)
1980-1989

Song: "Let The River Run"
Music & Lyrics by Carly Simon
Oscar-winning song from the film,
WORKING GIRL (1988)
1990-1999
"Hymn To The Fallen"
Theme by John Williams
from the film, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
See a list of over two centuries of American songs by clicking this link:
Survey of Essential American Songs
How did this annual event begin?
Back in 2001, ASCAP composer and music preservationist, Roger Lee Hall, wanted to remember the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks through music. So he came up with the idea of asking music lovers to select tunes for a week of remembrance in October.
Out of that grass roots idea has developed the annual free online event
known as National Carry A Tune Week.
National Carry A Tune Week is held annually near the birthday of America's
first tune composer, William Billings, born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 7, 1746.
For those old enough to remember, October 7 was also the date that the popular program, YOUR HIT PARADE, was premiered on national TV in 1950. This program had been on radio for many years. Each week the TV program went through the top songs of the week,
with a few older songs also included in the program.
One other event for October 7... that's the birthday of songwriter Ralph Rainger (1901-1942). He wrote mostly film songs, including "Love in Bloom" (1934). This song was first recorded by Bing Crosby but later became Jack Benny's theme song. Rainger, and his lyricist co-writer, Leo Robin, also wrote the Oscar winning song, "Thanks For The Memory" - from THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1938, sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross. It later became Bob Hope's theme song.
Next year's annual week will be:
October 6 - 12, 2013

Tunemaker Hall of Fame
(60 American composers and songwriters)
Previous Tune Weeks...
Eleventh Annual National Carry A Tune Week
(October 2 - 8, 2011)

National Carry A Tune Week 2011
To see a complete list of all the tunes from 2001-2010,
arranged by category
click here
Tenth Annual National Carry A Tune Week
(October 3 - 9, 2010)
National Carry A Tune Week 2010
Ninth Annual Carry A Tune Week (October 4 - 10, 2009)

To read the complete descriptions and YouTube music
for the tunes sent in,
click on this link:
National Carry a Tune Week 2009

Eighth Annual Carry A Tune Week (October 5 - 11, 2008)
To read the complete descriptions and YouTube music
for the tunes sent in,
click on this link:
National Carry a Tune Week 2008
Seventh Annual Carry A Tune Week (October 7 - 13, 2007)

To read more, look in Chase's Calendar of Events 2007 under the date
of October 7, 2007 for information about National Carry A Tune Week.
To read the complete descriptions for the tunes sent in,
click on this link:
National Carry a Tune Week 2007
Sixth Annual Carry A Tune Week (October 1- 7, 2006)

To read the complete descriptions for the tunes sent in,
click on this link:
National Carry a Tune Week 2006
Fifth Annual Carry A Tune Week (October 2 - 8, 2005)
To read the complete descriptions for the tunes sent in,
click on this link:
National Carry a Tune Week 2005
National Carry a Tune Week 2001-2004
Two songs celebrating their centennial in 2012

Both songs are included in this songbook...
.
Peg o' My Heart and
Other Favorite Song Hits
1912-1913
On the 100th anniversary year, see also...

Last Tune On The Titanic
Tune Lists and Surveys
"OLD STOUGHTON" -
Singing Meetings and Concerts, 1762-1962
100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th Century
100 Essential American Songs of the 20th Century
American Vocal Music Series
Essential American Recordings Survey [EARS]
The Great American Songbook
Sammy Film Music Awards
Song Anniversaries
Songs of World War II Era
Bravo, Bing! Songs by Bing Crosby
Lotsa Lanza! Songs by Mario Lanza
Early Elvis: Songs by Elvis Presley
Sensational Sinatra! Songs by Frank Sinatra
The NPR 100
Songs of the 20th Century
Survey of Essential American Songs, 1759-1961
Wikipedia: Melody
If you want to be on the Free Carry A Tune Week Mailing List, just fill out this information with no obligation to purchase anything...
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National Carry A Tune Week
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