All of Me (jazz standard) facts for kids

All of Me is a very famous popular song and a classic jazz standard. It was written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.

About the Song

Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons created both the words and the music for "All of Me" in 1931. The song has a structure called ABAC. This means some parts of the melody and lyrics repeat in a certain order. It is written in the key of B-flat major. There is an introduction part that is 20 bars long, but most people skip it when they perform the song.

The song's tune is quite interesting. The beginning parts often sound a bit sad, like someone is feeling down. But the end of the song, with its higher notes, sounds much happier and more joyful. "All of Me" is usually played at a medium speed. The music's harmony is simple and clear. Because of this, other musicians have used it as a base for their own songs. For example, Lennie Tristano used it for his song "Line Up."

Famous Recordings

"All of Me" first became well-known in 1931. This happened when Belle Baker sang it on the radio. Later that year, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra recorded the song. Their version, with singer Mildred Bailey, became a number one hit in the United States.

Within a few weeks, two more versions of the song also became popular. A recording by Louis Armstrong also reached number one on the charts. Another version by Ben Selvin and His Orchestra reached number 19. The song was even featured in a movie called Careless Lady in 1932. Many people think that Billie Holiday's version from 1941 is the best one. She sang it so well that it felt like it was her own song. Two years later, Lynne Sherman's recording with Count Basie and His Orchestra reached number 14 on the charts.

Frank Sinatra recorded "All of Me" several times. His 1948 recording reached number 21 on the charts. He also sang it in the movie Meet Danny Wilson. This might have helped Johnnie Ray's version reach number 12 that same year. Sinatra's performances helped people who didn't usually listen to jazz discover the song.

Later, Willie Nelson also made the song popular with a different audience. His version was on his album Stardust. It reached number 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1978. In 2000, "All of Me" received the Towering Song Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This award celebrates songs that have been important and popular for a long time.

See Also

In Spanish: All of Me (canción de Ruth Etting) para niños