The Port of San Francisco has debuted a raft of new songs to be played from the Ferry Building tower.
Published: September, 2000
The Port of San Francisco has debuted a raft of new songs to be played from the Ferry Building tower.
San Francisco Don Seaver using an electronic system that uses a musical keyboard to replicate the sound of carillon bells performs the songs.
Each tune has some kind of San Francisco connection:
San Francisco, one of the two official songs of the city, was the title song from the 1936 film with Spencer Tracy, Jeanette MacDonald, and Clark Gable. It wasn’t made the second official song until 1984.
Theme from The Streets of San Francisco, The best show filmed in San Francisco ever. Where Carl Malden could get a parking space wherever he wanted it, whenever he wanted it; the skyline looked old; the 22 Filmore could be seen cruising down Howard Street; and there were chase scenes beyond compare.
Turk’s Blue, Turk Murphy was one of the greats of Dixieland Jazz. And he was a San Franciscan. He became famous in the 50’s, a time when Dixieland was way out of favor. He played mostly standards, but a few tunes were his own, including Turk’s Blues. Turk was one of the progenitors of "The San Francisco Sound".
Take Five, by Dave Brubeck, born in Concord, CA (East Bay!). He spent a lot of time in S.F.
San Francisco Holiday, by Thelonious Monk. Monk recorded an album of solo piano called "Alone in San Francisco" with a cable car on the cover. But this song is not on that record.
Truckin’ is perhaps the most recognized of all Grateful Dead songs.
Oye Como Va., A song made famous by Mission district native Carlos Santana. The great Tito Puente who passed away earlier this year wrote the song for him.
Linus and Lucy, the theme from the Peanuts animated movies. Vince Guaraldi, a San Franciscan, wrote most of the Peanuts music. Regardless, Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts, was a long time Santa Rosa resident. Not quite the Bay Area, but close enough.
Smiles was a popular song of the time, but it was Mayor "Sunny" Jim Rolph’s theme song. He was the very popular mayor from 1911 to 1930 when he became governor.
Stormy Weather and Over the Rainbow are two of the more famous and appropriate songs by San Francisco composer Harold Arlen. Also to his credit: accentuate the positive, that old black magic, and many more.
Hello Frisco was performed by the Ziegfield Follies at the 1915 Pan Pacific Expo. It was to commemorate the first trans-continental phone call, which was made at the 1915 expo. "Please, long distance, do connect me. Get her on the telephone. Hello Frisco, hello."
Grant Avenue is from the film Flower Drum Song, which is about San Francisco’s Chinatown district.
Pal Joey is from the movie of the same name, which was filmed in San Francisco, partly at the Spreckles Mansion. Starring Frank Sinatra.
