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Jackie Robinson
In 1947, Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) became the first African American to play baseball on a major league team in the modern era. This achievement, along with Robinson's remarkable rookie season, inspired a number of singers and songwriters to compose songs in his honor. In the years immediately following Robinson's major league debut in 1947, the Library of Congress Copyright Office received deposits of at least four songs with Robinson as their subject, including such titles as "The Jackie Robinson Boogie" and "Jackie Robinson Blues." By far the best known song honoring Robinson is Buddy Johnson's classic, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" In August 1949, Johnson's Decca recording hit its peak position on the charts at number thirteen. A cover of the song by Count Basie's Orchestra is part of the introductory video in the exhibition. |