My Hero

[ngs]

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra made a recording of a song named "My Hero", who wrote the original theme ?

[hotdog]

According to the Syd Lawrence Society the sleeve notes credit My Hero as an adaptation of a piece of music by no less a composer than Strauss. It was made popular in the late forties and fifties by the Ralph Flanagan Orchestra. The Syd Lawrence version is a re-creation of this piece by Flanagan.

[homer]

Peter King, of the Syd Lawrence Society, adds: The original piece was from The Chocolate Soldier by Strauss. A lot of classic pieces were arranged by the dance orchestras of the 40s when ASCAP (copyright society) in 1941 could not agree with the radio broadcasters as to copyright rates. They banned all ASCAP music from being broadcast, so this led a lot of the band leaders in those days to look for non copyright music and a lot of the classic were in this category. I'm not certain if this piece was adapted during that period, but it's quite likely.