
Judy Whitmore is celebrating America's 250 birthday with her new EP "This Is Home", which was released last Friday (June 12th). To celebrate we asked her to tell us about song "The House I Live In". Here is the story:
I fell in love with patriotic music when I was ten years old. That's when I watched the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy for the first time. I was in college when I heard the song "The House I Live In" for the first time. I loved it and wanted to play it on the piano, but I couldn't find the sheet music. I forgot about the song until I was going over the song possibilities for the EP "This Is Home" with Chris Walden. He suggested "The House I Live In" and I immediately said, "Yes!"
I began to rehearse the song with my vocal coach, Peisha McPhee, and my music director, Michael Orland. For the first two weeks, I couldn't get through the song. The lyrics evoke such strong images and feelings for me that halfway through it, I would start to cry.
This song celebrates the commonality of all Americans and makes the case for the elimination of racial and religious intolerance. I think my intense reaction came from the fact that three of my grandparents came to America as immigrants. They had little money and didn't speak English. They were the beginning of my American roots, and I'm so grateful for the sacrifices they made...so that one day I would be lucky enough to record this song.
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself below and learn more here
Judy Whitmore Commemorates Memorial Day with New Single 'America Medley'
Singled Out: Judy Whitmore's The Ghosts Of Christmas Past'
Cruise News: Dave Koz Will Sail to Latin America and the Dutch Caribbean in 2028
Sites and Sounds: Sister Hazel Return to the Crossroads Music Festival
Van Halen Reissuing Final Studio Album
Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger Premieres At Venice International Film Festival
Duran Duran's 'Ordinary World' Reimagined By Vitamin String Quartet And Girl Named Tom
Kurt Baker Unearths Lost Madrid Recordings On New Single 'Wonder Woman'
Blue October Announce Storytelling On Vinyl And DVD
Arms & Armour Release 'Crusher' Video
Elvis Costello Shares Previously Unreleased 'I Turn Around' From 'My Aim Is True' Box Set
Hear The Fleshtones' 50th Anniversary Single 'Float Your Showboat'
Fight From Within Unleash 'The End of My Rope'
Liam And Noel Gallagher Arrive at Venice Lido For 'Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger' Premiere
Watch Underoath Rock 'Breathing In A New Mentality' At Warped Tour
The All-American Rejects Deliver Expanded 'Move Along' Album