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Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A.

January 07, 2023

"Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." is a sports anthem, novelty song, and jazz march by American songwriter Ruth Roberts. First recorded by Hugo Winterhalter in 1950, it became one of the most frequently heard songs on American radio during that year's college football season. It was later covered by a number of other artists, including Percy Faith and The Crew-Cuts. Lyrically associated with gridiron football, it is a staple in the repertoire of some college and high school marching bands and is particularly associated with the University of Nebraska.

"Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."
Cover of the 1950 sheet music to "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."
Song
Written1950
Composer(s)Ruth Roberts
Lyricist(s)Gene Piller, Bill Katz
Audio sample
An excerpt of Winterhalter's 1950 recording of "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."

Background

Composition

"Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." is an energetic jazz march composed in 1950 by Ruth Roberts with her husband Gene Piller and long-time collaborator William "Bill" Katz.[1][2][a] It has been described as musically and thematically similar to the 1933 song "You Gotta Be a Football Hero".[1][2]

Lyrics

The song's lyrics are typical of those of American university fight songs, and communicate what Frank Hoffmann has described as "an adolescent manner of praising the power of the football team".[3] They tell of the athletic exploits of an eponymous, fictional character known by the moniker "Mr. Touchdown" who will unfailingly run touchdowns if given a pigskin. In the bridge, the lyrics recall Mr. Touchdown's triumphs over specific college football teams, such as describing "the day he murdered Minnesota", how he "took Wisconsin's white and red and made it black and blue instead", and declaring that "what he did to Arkansas should happen to your mother-in-law".[4]

Recording and release

Hugo Winterhalter's 1950 recording of the song was released as a single in September 1950, with the album's B side a performance of the patriotic, anti-communist song "The Red We Want is the Red We've Got".[5] In the November 25, 1950 issue of Billboard, "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A" was listed among the ten most played songs on American radio.[6]

Promotion

 
Bobby Reynolds (pictured) became known as Mr. Touchdown after winning an RCA contest organized as part of its promotion of "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."

To promote the song's debut, RCA offered a prize of a television set and a silver-plated album of Winterhalter's recording to the college football player who scored the most touchdowns during the 1950 football season; as part of the promotion, albums of "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." were sent to sports reporters at American newspapers.[7] The University of Nebraska's Bobby Reynolds ultimately claimed the prize, which was presented to him by Winterhalter in February of 1951.[8] Reynolds, who became best known among Nebraska fans during his legendary 1950 season, has since been described as Mr. Touchdown.[9][10]

Performances and cultural influence

"Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." was covered by The Crew-Cuts on their 1956 album On the Campus, and by Percy Faith on his 1958 album Touchdown![11] It was performed during pre-game ceremonies of Super Bowl III in 1969 and is a regular number in the University of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band's pregame shows, played between the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "March of the Cornhuskers".[12][13] It has also been performed by the marching bands of the University of Michigan and other universities and high schools.[14]

In 2020, Yardbarker named "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." second on a list of the "25 best songs about sports"; in September 2018, it was named by the Daily Mississippian to its "playlist of the week".[15][16]

The song is part of the soundtrack to the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Roberts and Katz would later work together to write the New York Mets tribute song "Meet the Mets".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Keep, Peter (July 7, 2011). "Ruth Roberts, Songwriter Known for N.Y. Mets Ditty". Boston Globe. New York Times News Service. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. 
  2. ^ a b Schueneman, Bruce R (2013). College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology. Routledge. p. 41. ISBN 978-1136384677.
  3. ^ Hoffmann, Frank (2013). Football and American Identity. Routledge. p. 173. ISBN 978-1135427146.
  4. ^ Case, Jerry (September 21, 2014). "By the Book: There are plenty of baseball books, but football?". Suffolk Times. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Goddard, Bob (September 22, 1950). "The Music Whirl". St. Louis Globe Democrat. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "Records Most Played by Disc Jockeys". Billboard. November 25, 1950. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Record Makers to Honor TD Terror". Indianapolis News. October 26, 1950. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." The Frederick Press. February 15, 1951. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ Chrisopherson, Brian (March 1, 2016). "81 yards: Nebraska's All-American boy". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Sittler, Dave (October 31, 1975). "Mr. Touchdown's Anniversary". Lincoln Journal-Star. Retrieved December 30, 2020. 
  11. ^ "Touchdown!". percyfaith.info. All About Percy Faith Discography and Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Husker game day traditions". Daily Nebraskan. July 22, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "Super Bowl III". paleycenter.org. Paley Center for Media. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  14. ^ "From the Sidelines". Michigan Alumnus. October 18, 1952.
  15. ^ a b Mezydlo, Jeff (December 30, 2020). "Jock jams: The 25 best songs about sports". Yardbarker. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  16. ^ Dunnells, Adam (September 18, 2018). "Playlist of the week: Football". The Daily Mississippian. Retrieved December 30, 2020.

External links

  • Video of the University of Nebraska marching band performing "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."
  • Video of the Mount Hebron High School marching band performing "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."
  • Video of Japanese concert band Brass Porteño with cheerleaders performing "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A."

January 07, 2023
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Mr Touchdown U S A is a sports anthem novelty song and jazz march by American songwriter Ruth Roberts First recorded by Hugo Winterhalter in 1950 it became one of the most frequently heard songs on American radio during that year s college football season It was later covered by a number of other artists including Percy Faith and The Crew Cuts Lyrically associated with gridiron football it is a staple in the repertoire of some college and high school marching bands and is particularly associated with the University of Nebraska Mr Touchdown U S A Cover of the 1950 sheet music to Mr Touchdown U S A SongWritten1950Composer s Ruth RobertsLyricist s Gene Piller Bill KatzAudio sample source source An excerpt of Winterhalter s 1950 recording of Mr Touchdown U S A filehelp Contents 1 Background 1 1 Composition 1 2 Lyrics 2 Recording and release 2 1 Promotion 3 Performances and cultural influence 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditComposition Edit Mr Touchdown U S A is an energetic jazz march composed in 1950 by Ruth Roberts with her husband Gene Piller and long time collaborator William Bill Katz 1 2 a It has been described as musically and thematically similar to the 1933 song You Gotta Be a Football Hero 1 2 Lyrics Edit The song s lyrics are typical of those of American university fight songs and communicate what Frank Hoffmann has described as an adolescent manner of praising the power of the football team 3 They tell of the athletic exploits of an eponymous fictional character known by the moniker Mr Touchdown who will unfailingly run touchdowns if given a pigskin In the bridge the lyrics recall Mr Touchdown s triumphs over specific college football teams such as describing the day he murdered Minnesota how he took Wisconsin s white and red and made it black and blue instead and declaring that what he did to Arkansas should happen to your mother in law 4 Recording and release EditHugo Winterhalter s 1950 recording of the song was released as a single in September 1950 with the album s B side a performance of the patriotic anti communist song The Red We Want is the Red We ve Got 5 In the November 25 1950 issue of Billboard Mr Touchdown U S A was listed among the ten most played songs on American radio 6 Promotion Edit Bobby Reynolds pictured became known as Mr Touchdown after winning an RCA contest organized as part of its promotion of Mr Touchdown U S A To promote the song s debut RCA offered a prize of a television set and a silver plated album of Winterhalter s recording to the college football player who scored the most touchdowns during the 1950 football season as part of the promotion albums of Mr Touchdown U S A were sent to sports reporters at American newspapers 7 The University of Nebraska s Bobby Reynolds ultimately claimed the prize which was presented to him by Winterhalter in February of 1951 8 Reynolds who became best known among Nebraska fans during his legendary 1950 season has since been described as Mr Touchdown 9 10 Performances and cultural influence Edit Mr Touchdown U S A was covered by The Crew Cuts on their 1956 album On the Campus and by Percy Faith on his 1958 album Touchdown 11 It was performed during pre game ceremonies of Super Bowl III in 1969 and is a regular number in the University of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band s pregame shows played between the Star Spangled Banner and March of the Cornhuskers 12 13 It has also been performed by the marching bands of the University of Michigan and other universities and high schools 14 In 2020 Yardbarker named Mr Touchdown U S A second on a list of the 25 best songs about sports in September 2018 it was named by the Daily Mississippian to its playlist of the week 15 16 The song is part of the soundtrack to the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds 15 See also Edit Take Me Out to the Ball Game Notes Edit Roberts and Katz would later work together to write the New York Mets tribute song Meet the Mets 1 References Edit a b c Keep Peter July 7 2011 Ruth Roberts Songwriter Known for N Y Mets Ditty Boston Globe New York Times News Service Retrieved December 30 2020 via Newspapers com a b Schueneman Bruce R 2013 College Fight Songs An Annotated Anthology Routledge p 41 ISBN 978 1136384677 Hoffmann Frank 2013 Football and American Identity Routledge p 173 ISBN 978 1135427146 Case Jerry September 21 2014 By the Book There are plenty of baseball books but football Suffolk Times Retrieved December 30 2020 Goddard Bob September 22 1950 The Music Whirl St Louis Globe Democrat Retrieved December 30 2020 via newspapers com Records Most Played by Disc Jockeys Billboard November 25 1950 Retrieved December 30 2020 Record Makers to Honor TD Terror Indianapolis News October 26 1950 Retrieved December 30 2020 via newspapers com Mr Touchdown U S A The Frederick Press February 15 1951 Retrieved December 30 2020 via newspapers com Chrisopherson Brian March 1 2016 81 yards Nebraska s All American boy Lincoln Journal Star Retrieved December 30 2020 Sittler Dave October 31 1975 Mr Touchdown s Anniversary Lincoln Journal Star Retrieved December 30 2020 Touchdown percyfaith info All About Percy Faith Discography and Reference Retrieved December 30 2020 Husker game day traditions Daily Nebraskan July 22 2016 Retrieved December 30 2020 Super Bowl III paleycenter org Paley Center for Media Retrieved December 30 2020 From the Sidelines Michigan Alumnus October 18 1952 a b Mezydlo Jeff December 30 2020 Jock jams The 25 best songs about sports Yardbarker Retrieved December 22 2020 Dunnells Adam September 18 2018 Playlist of the week Football The Daily Mississippian Retrieved December 30 2020 External links EditVideo of the University of Nebraska marching band performing Mr Touchdown U S A Video of the Mount Hebron High School marching band performing Mr Touchdown U S A Video of Japanese concert band Brass Porteno with cheerleaders performing Mr Touchdown U S A Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mr Touchdown U S A amp oldid 1125409545, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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