![]() In 1970, the national newsletter of American Legion Auxiliary, a popular women’s patriotic group that surely included many teachers, published the lyrics as the “ suggested patriotic song for October.” I heard from one American-Ray Charles’ former lawyer, actually-who learned the song at a public school in New Jersey in the late 1960s or early 1970s, which indicates that some teachers had embraced “Fifty Nifty” as a mnemonic device within a decade of the song’s invention. In the summer of 1963, the song was performed at the National Education Association’s annual meeting in Michigan, possibly serving as inspiration for the thousands of educators in attendance. How, exactly, the song caught on with educators is hard to say definitely, although some clues suggest how it spread. Whoever saw fit to print and distribute “Fifty Nifty United States” probably predicted-correctly-that music educators would embrace the catchy, wholesome, patriotic song. School choirs had previously been limited to classical compositions, but choir directors jumped at the chance to teach their students more accessible, modern tunes. (No doubt it’s been taught in many of the other 37 nifty states as well.) Lin-Manuel Miranda, the MacArthur genius and writer and star of the singularly acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton, called it “my favorite song from elementary-school chorus” before a performance in September (and then sang the state roll call flawlessly).ĭuring the mid-20 th century, when choral groups like the Ray Charles Singers dominated the airwaves, music publishers realized that there was an untapped market for written arrangements of popular songs. ![]() And this appears to be a truly national phenomenon: I have heard from people who learned the song from sea to shining sea, in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The same is true for most other adults I’ve talked to who learned “Fifty Nifty United States” in childhood. Eighteen years later, I can barely remember what happened during the Battle of Lexington and Concord, or which constitutional amendment says what, but I can still sing the name of every state without having to think about it. If you believe that any review contained on our site infringes upon your copyright, please email us.I learned “Fifty Nifty United States” in my fifth-grade music class in Austin, Texas, around 1997. All submitted reviews become the licensed property of Sheet Music Plus and are subject to all laws pertaining thereto.If you have any suggestions or comments on the guidelines, please email us. We cannot post your review if it violates these guidelines.Avoid disclosing contact information (email addresses, phone numbers, etc.), or including URLs, time-sensitive material or alternative ordering information.Please do not use inappropriate language, including profanity, vulgarity, or obscenity. ![]() Be respectful of artists, readers, and your fellow reviewers.Feel free to recommend similar pieces if you liked this piece, or alternatives if you didn't.Are you a beginner who started playing last month? Do you usually like this style of music? ![]()
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