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Willson’s new marching song stems from “Ask Not”
Hollywood notes that Meredith Willson spent five months composing a simple yet challenging song inspired by Kennedy’s assassination. Frank Loesser urged the project with two words that sparked the idea, and Willson framed the piece as a Negro spiritual with a closing line echoing patriotic duty. A verse about thirteen colonies and a drum-rattle finale complete the number.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bob Thomas
Hollywood
Meredith Willson
Willson
Frank Loesser
Loesser
John F. Kennedy