Memorial Day Music - An American Composer: George M. Cohan - Monday Music Review

George M. Cohan, born in 1878, was one of America’s best composers, producers, actors, and performers.  He described himself as just a “song-and-dance man”, touring in vaudeville shows since he was eight years old.  He continued acting, singing, and hoofing (tap dancing) with his mother, father, and sister in an act called The Four Cohans all the way into adulthood.  Cohan was not only an amazing performer, but he wrote plays, Broadway shows, and songs as well.  One of his biggest Broadway hits was “Little Johnny Jones”, a story about an American jockey riding in the London Derby.  The show introduced the now famous song, “Give My Regards to Broadway”.    Patriotism was often a big theme for Cohan.  Two of his most popular songs ever written were “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Over There”.  “Over There” was written during World War I and it was such an inspiring song, Cohan was eventually awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the first entertainer to ever receive this honor.   Six months before his death, Cohan got to watch the movie musical of his life, “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, starring James Cagney.   

I grew up watching Yankee Doodle Dandy, it is one of my favorite musicals.  I highly recommend watching it as a family.  You can find the movie at your local library, on Amazon Prime ($5), or for purchase from Amazon.   If you aren’t able to access the movie right now, please enjoy some of Cohan’s most famous songs!

For the Family - Song List

For a clip from the movie about his life, Yankee Doodle Dandy, here is Cohan (played by the amazing James Cagney), showing off his singing, dancing, and theatrical skills. The song is Yankee Doodle Boy and is from Cohan’s musical Little Johnny Jones (so a musical within a movie)! Enjoy!

For more family fun, check out this George M. Cohan Activity packet – activities for preschool, elementary, middle, and high-schoolers.