NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 2, 2008) - As pitchers take to the mounds and fans take
to the stadiums, there is more to celebrate this spring than just the start
of another baseball season. 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the most
iconic and beloved of all American sports anthems -- "Take Me Out to the
Ball Game."
The legacy of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" extends beyond the joy it has
brought to listeners for the last 100 years. The song is directly
responsible for the formation of The ASCAP Foundation, a charitable
organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and
encouraging their development through music education and talent
development programs.
The ASCAP Foundation was incorporated in 1975 when Amy Swor Norworth, widow
of Jack Norworth, the lyricist who penned "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
with composer Albert Von Tilzer, left a generous bequest to ASCAP to
establish the Jack and Amy Norworth Memorial Fund to assist deserving young
composers through the use royalties from "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
"The deep, emotional connection that the American public has with 'Take Me
Out to the Ball Game' is a testament to the power of music to shape our
experiences and to bring us together," said Karen Sherry, vice president
and executive director of The ASCAP Foundation. "The place that this song
holds in the history of American music is all the more special, given its
role in helping many others to pursue the craft of songwriting that Jack
Norworth himself so loved. All of us at The ASCAP Foundation are indebted
to his generosity and celebrate this amazing milestone, as we continue our
work of encouraging young songwriters to pursue their dreams."
Highlights of the intertwined history of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and
The ASCAP Foundation include:
-- 1908 - ASCAP member Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer collaborate to
write "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
-- 1975 - The ASCAP Foundation is incorporated in June after the estate
of Jack Norworth leaves a bequest to ASCAP with instructions to create a
program to honor and support young composers.
-- 2008 - To date, The ASCAP Foundation has directly benefited thousands
of songwriters and composers.
-- Over the course of the century since it was written, there have been
hundreds of recordings of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" by artists ranging
from Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and the Andrews Sisters to Frank Zappa,
Arturo Sandoval and the Goo Goo Dolls.
The ASCAP Foundation supports ongoing programs for music education, talent
development, awards and grants, and overall recognition -- all funded by
donors such as Jack Norworth. Recently, The ASCAP Foundation's Children
Will Listen program, established in honor of Stephen Sondheim, and which is
designed to introduce the American Musical Theatre to youngsters who might
otherwise not have the opportunity to experience it, teamed up with ASCAP
member Lin-Manuel Miranda -- lyricist, composer and star of Broadway hit,
"In the Heights" -- to expose students to the Broadway stage.
Fun Facts on America's Favorite Song
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game," which is traditionally sung during the
seventh-inning stretch at baseball games, has become a mainstay in the
American songbook. Here are just a few fun facts associated with the song:
-- It is the third most frequently sung tune in the United States after
"Happy Birthday" and "The Star Spangled Banner"
-- It has sold over 10 million copies in sheet music and/or recordings
-- Over the past 100 years, more than 400 musicians from every
conceivable genre have recorded the song
-- The original lyrics are now part of the collection at The National
Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, New York
The ASCAP Foundation and its connection to this beloved song is featured in
a new special edition hardcover book and CD titled "Baseball's Greatest
Hit: The Story of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,'" published this year by
Hal Leonard.
The ASCAP Foundation is planning further activities to celebrate "Take Me
Out to the Ball Game" throughout 2008. For more information visit
www.ascapfoundation.org.
About The ASCAP Foundation:
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization
dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their
development through music education and talent development programs.
Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards,
recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects
for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by
contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the
United States.
www.ascapfoundation.org