SANTA CLAUS SONG

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 123, 14 February 1940, Page 8

SANTA CLAUS SONG

COMPOSER'S AMBITION TO lIEAR GRACIE MELDS SING IT Nearly 20 years ago a call-boy stood in the wings of a London stage listening to Grade .Fiolcs. ''Oiifr day," he said, "Grade will sing my songs and' mglt*) them famous." 'today the dream of the call-boy, whose name was Tommy Connor, has come -irue. In a B.EJ- concert a few weeks ago Gracie Fields brought" tears to the ejes of thousands of wireless listeners when she sang. '"•.So I'm Sending a Letter to Saul a Clans to Bring Daddy Safely Home to Me." Among the listeners was; Tommy Connor, who wrole the s-.jng. ,f ;\t that moment I realised I had scored my biggest hit/' he said. "Gracie, who launched ihc song, has certainly made it fanvau Copies have been selling at the of 20.000 a day. which, the publishers tell me,, has broken tho record previously held by Tipperary.' " Tommy Connor aged .'35, is the I'jither of tliree children, the 4/'<t of whom was born on daywarb roke out. Inspiration foor the "Santa Clans" song came when he heard his seven year oW daughter,, Maureen, discuss Christmas presents *vit,h his four year old son, Brian. Maureen said: "I'm going to shoutup the chimney for. Father Christmas to hear." "I Avon't do that/" said Brian. "I'm sending a letter to San'a Clans." Their father bad a ready-made line for his song. completed the chorus ill four and a* half minutes.