The Ballad of Davy Crockett facts for kids

"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" is a famous song. George Bruns wrote the music and Thomas W. Blackburn wrote the words. It first appeared on the ABC TV show Disneyland. This was on October 27, 1954.

On the show, Fess Parker sang the song. He was dressed like a frontiersman in a log cabin setting. Other musicians joined him. The song was also heard in the Davy Crockett TV miniseries. This series first aired on December 15, 1954. In the miniseries, The Wellingtons sang the song. Fess Parker played the main character, Davy Crockett. Buddy Ebsen played George "Georgie" Russel, and Jeff York played the boatman Mike Fink.

Archie Bleyer, who was in charge of Cadence Records, heard the song on TV. He quickly called Bill Hayes to see if he wanted to record it. The very next day, Bill Hayes, Al Caiola, and Art Ryerson recorded the song. They did it in just one try! Many other artists also recorded the song. These included Fess Parker and Louis Armstrong in 1968. In the United Kingdom, Bill Hayes's version became very popular. It reached number 2 on the music charts.

What is "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"?

This song tells the story of Davy Crockett. He was a real American frontiersman, soldier, and politician. The song describes him as a brave and adventurous person. It helped make him a hero to many children. The song's catchy tune and simple words made it easy to remember.

How the Song Became a Hit

The song became a huge success very quickly. It was part of a big marketing plan by Walt Disney Productions. They wanted to make the movie Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier popular. This movie came out in Britain in 1956.

There was already a "Crockett craze" in the United States. The TV episodes were incredibly popular. Lots of Davy Crockett items were made and sold. The most famous item was the fake coonskin cap. This cap looked like the one Davy Crockett wore. Kids everywhere wanted one! The song and the craze spread across the Atlantic Ocean to other countries. A French version of the song, sung by Annie Cordy, was number 1 in France for five weeks in 1956.

Even politicians joined in the fun. In 1956, United States Senator Estes Kefauver wore a Davy Crockett cap. He was running for Vice-President at the time.

The Davy Crockett craze was so big that it was mentioned in books and movies. For example, it appeared in the Molesworth book series. It was also shown in the movie Back to the Future. This film takes place mostly in 1955. In the movie, you can hear Fess Parker's version of the song on a jukebox. One character even wears a coonskin cap. The song is also sung by characters in the Country Bear Jamboree attraction. The 2009 movie Fantastic Mr. Fox starts with the main character playing the song on his radio.

Other Artists Who Sang the Song

Many musicians have recorded their own versions of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." Here are a few:

• In 1955, Mac Wiseman released a version that reached number 10 on the Country music charts.
• Also in 1955, Burl Ives released his version of the song.
• Annie Cordy's French version, "La Ballade de Davy Crockett", was a big hit in France in 1956.
• Pinky and Perky included their version on their 1962 album.
• The Kentucky Headhunters recorded a version for their 1991 album Electric Barnyard. It reached number 49 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
• Tim Curry recorded a cover for the Disney's Music From The Park album in 1996.
• Mannheim Steamroller made an instrumental version in 1999. It was on their album Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse.
• They Might Be Giants sang a changed version called "The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space)." This was on their 2009 album Here Comes Science.