Kate Smith
May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986
Kate Smith was a popular singer in the 1940s and beyond. She is best remembered for her powerful version of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” Smith’s career began singing on radio in the early ’30s. She became a big star of the day thanks to her NBC Radio program, Kate Smith Sings, and subsequent shows on CBS. In March of 1969, hockey’s Philadelphia Flyers played a recording of Smith’s “God Bless America” before a home game and began a trend of mostly winning games when the song was played. Smith joined the fun by making special appearances to sing it from time to time. To this day, royalties from her performance of “God Bless America” are donated to either the Boys or Girls Club. Kate Smith died of diabetes at the age of 79.
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