HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOWHO?
The Strange History of ‘Happy Birthday’
Is your calendar full of birthday parties this month? You’re not alone. In the United States, more people are born in September than in any other month, meaning Americans will sing many choruses of “Happy Birthday” this month. This popular tune has a surprisingly controversial history. First composed by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, the familiar melody originally belonged to a song called “Good Morning to All,” a song the sisters sang to their students every morning. Over time, the word “birthday” entered variations of the song and became a popular party tune. By the 1930s, “Happy Birthday” appeared all over in films and on the radio, prompting Mildred and Patty’s sister, Jessica, to secure the copyright to “Happy Birthday” due to its similarity to “Good Morning to All.” In 1988, Warner Music acquired the copyright, and the song’s ingrained popularity ensured a profit. They reportedly made $2 million a year on royalty charges. The Walt Disney Company paid $5,000 to use the song in a parade, and many documentaries were also impacted by the copyright. The civil rights documentary “Eyes on the Prize” never made it to DVD because the royalties charge on a scene of Martin Luther King celebrating his birthday was so high.
Due to its age and popularity, many people have insisted “Happy Birthday” is, or at least should be, in the public domain. When Warner Music tried to charge filmmaker Jennifer Nelson royalties to make a film about the song, she filed a lawsuit. Her attorneys uncovered a 1922 songbook featuring “Happy Birthday” without any copyright notice. They even suggested Warner Music knowingly hid the songbook because it proved “Happy Birthday” had been in the public domain for decades. In 2015, a U.S. judge ruled that “Happy Birthday” is not under copyright. So, the next time you record guests singing “Happy Birthday” at a birthday party, you don’t have to worry about paying royalties if you upload it online.
AZTEC HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients
• 6 cups milk • 10 oz chopped dark chocolate • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• A pinch or two of cayenne (optional) • Marshmallows and cinnamon sticks for garnish
directions
AUTUMN APPLE SEPTEMBER
TOUCHDOWN HOMECOMING HARVEST CIDER LEAVES SWEATER
1. In a pot combine the milk and chocolate.
LABORDAY FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK
2. Melt the chocolate over low/medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Once melted, stir in the cinnamon and cayenne (if using).
4. Serve hot!
281.218.0880
3
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker