{"id":2422,"date":"2013-09-28T22:19:37","date_gmt":"2013-09-29T02:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christmasclassics.com\/christmasmusic\/?p=2422"},"modified":"2013-09-28T22:19:37","modified_gmt":"2013-09-29T02:19:37","slug":"christmas-classics-person-day-richard-b-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/christmasclassics.com\/christmasmusic\/christmas-classics-person-day-richard-b-smith","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Classics PERSON OF THE DAY: Richard B. Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

On this day in 1901, the little known Richard B. Smith was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He was the lyricist (Felix Bernard wrote the music) of the popular Christmas song Winter Wonderland<\/i> <\/span><\/strong>that was first recorded by Guy Lombardo in 1934. Unfortunately for Smith, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1931, he never got to enjoy the success that came to his classic song after succumbing to the disease in 1935, thus aborting what looked to be a promising career.<\/p>\n

Smith had attended Penn State University, majored in advertising, and was responsible for editing the school magazine. His interest in music was also on display there when he formed and conducted his own orchestra. After graduating from Penn State, Smith moved to New York and began a career as a newspaper editor. The music bug, however, never left him as he took on the management of several Broadway theaters.<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania lyricist got married in 1931. Shortly after the happy event he was stricken with the dreaded tuberculosis and soon was admitted to the West Mountain Sanatorium where his wife was a nurse. With his wife near to his side, Smith’s talent for songwriting blossomed as he produced When A Gypsy Makes a Violin Cry<\/i><\/span><\/strong>, Bringing My Honey Back to Me<\/i><\/span><\/strong>, and the\u00a0 popular Winter Wonderland <\/span><\/strong><\/i>while convalescing,\u00a0all of which caused Hollywood to come knocking. Before long Smith gladly agreed to a contract to write music for films; but a month before he was to go to California he passed away.<\/p>\n

The inspiration for Winter Wonderland<\/span><\/strong>, <\/i>a delightful addition to American Christmas Classics<\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/a>supposedly came from familiar winter snow scenes Smith remembered from life near the Pocono Mountains. Eight years after his passing, his song made it to the top of the charts and it has since become a perennial favorite during the Christmas season.<\/p>\n

\"Winter<\/a>

Winter Wonderland
Sheet Music Cover<\/p><\/div>\n

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