Buskers

Our friendly buskers are all from Eastern Europe and speak little English, but I was able to establish that their sole rendition was extremely popular back home.

Research provided the answer.

The “national song” was composed by Josef Ivanovici, a Romanian military band leader and composer, best remembered today for his waltz, Waves of Danube, in 1880.

Marlene Dietrich is shown playing the melody on a piano in the 1931 film, Dishonoured, but it took until after the Second World War to reach widespread fame when film star and singer Al Jolson, along with songwriter Saul Chaplin, gave the tune lyrics and renamed it The Anniversary Song: “Oh how we danced on the night we were wed.”

As with many popular songs in those days several other artists quickly released it in the US, including Dinah Shore, Guy Lombardo and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, with varying success.

It has been recorded by scores of artists since the Forties, including Bing Crosby, Tom Jones, Rosemary Clooney and Andy Williams.

So, next time you hear the old squeeze box grinding out this tune, think of Jolson... and smile.

Tom Purvis, Sunderland.

RE your recent reports about complaints over accordion players in various towns.

Recently, there was a group of buskers in Northallerton who were playing very pleasant music and I bought a CD from them and play it regularly.

A few weeks ago there was a man playing a tin whistle on High Row in Darlington. As I can’t even play a comb and paper myself I admire him and thought he deserved a few coppers. He was playing a tune called Dirty Old Town.

Incidentally, Darlington councillors should take a look at Northallerton markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

They are on a footing to what Darlington markets used to be.

The last time we were in Darlington on a Monday it was nearly empty of stalls.

John A Barr, Darlington.