Up on the House Top
Encyclopedia
"Up on the House Top" is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby
in 1864 in the town of New Paris, Ohio
.
. It has been recorded by a multitude of singers, among the most notable Gene Autry
, who is also known for his version of the classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
".
", which was written in 1857 (although the latter was originally intended as a Thanksgiving song). It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. In fact, according to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book Hanby was the first to offer up the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes. Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio
, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad
. During his short life he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867. Other than "Up on the House Top" his best-known song is "Darling Nelly Gray".
of the same name, produced by Perennial Pictures Film Corporation
in Indianapolis, Indiana
was released. Co-writer/co-producer/co-director G. Brian Reynolds also was the voice of Curtis Calhoun, and also composed the musical score. His creative partner, Russ Harris, co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and also did voiceover work in this special. The special is the story of Curtis Calhoun, a miserable man who wishes that there were no Santa Claus
. But then on Christmas Eve, someone is on top of the Calhouns' roof, and Curtis doesn't know if he's Saint Nick or a cat burglar.
. The recording broke a Billboard
record when it made the largest leap into the Top 5 in the AC chart's history, moving from 32 to 5 in only a week. It was also the second longest Billboard
holiday AC chart topper in the chart's history, sitting at #1 for 4 consecutive weeks.
Benjamin Hanby
Benjamin Russell Hanby , also given as Benjamin Russel Hanby, was an American composer who wrote approximately 80 songs, the most famous of which are "Darling Nelly Gray", the Christmas song "Up on the House Top", and the hymn "Who Is He In Yonder Stall?".Hanby was born near Rushville, Ohio...
in 1864 in the town of New Paris, Ohio
New Paris, Ohio
New Paris is a village in Preble County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The area was in the tribal grounds of the Pottawatomi, Miami and Wyandot Indians....
.
. It has been recorded by a multitude of singers, among the most notable Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, who is also known for his version of the classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer with a glowing red nose. He is popularly known as "Santa's 9th Reindeer" and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through...
".
| Up on the Housetop The Airmen of Note, 2009, Jazz Version |
History
According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, "Up on the House Top" was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by "Jingle BellsJingle Bells
"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
", which was written in 1857 (although the latter was originally intended as a Thanksgiving song). It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. In fact, according to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book Hanby was the first to offer up the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes. Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio
Rushville, Ohio
Rushville is a village in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. The population was 268 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rushville is located at ....
, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. During his short life he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867. Other than "Up on the House Top" his best-known song is "Darling Nelly Gray".
On Television
In 1992, a syndicated television specialTelevision special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
of the same name, produced by Perennial Pictures Film Corporation
Perennial Pictures Film Corporation
Perennial Pictures Film Corporation is an independent American animated cartoon studio founded by G. Brian Reynolds and Russ Harris in 1979. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the studio made its initial entry into the marketplace producing local and regional animated television commercials. In...
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
was released. Co-writer/co-producer/co-director G. Brian Reynolds also was the voice of Curtis Calhoun, and also composed the musical score. His creative partner, Russ Harris, co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and also did voiceover work in this special. The special is the story of Curtis Calhoun, a miserable man who wishes that there were no Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
. But then on Christmas Eve, someone is on top of the Calhouns' roof, and Curtis doesn't know if he's Saint Nick or a cat burglar.
Notable cover versions
- The King SistersThe King SistersThe King Sisters were an American big band-era vocal quartet.-History:Born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Utah, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, the King Sisters originally were part of the "Driggs Family of Entertainers"."In the early 1930s sisters Luise, Maxine and Alyce formed a vocal trio...
- The Jackson 5The Jackson 5The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
– The Jackson 5 Christmas AlbumThe Jackson 5 Christmas AlbumJackson 5 Christmas Album was the only holiday album released by Motown family quintet The Jackson 5. Released in October 1970, the album showcased the brothers' harmonies and vocals. Lead singer Michael Jackson is prominently featured on the album tracks. Included on the Christmas Album is the...
(1970) - Sammy KershawSammy KershawSamuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
– Christmas Time's A-Comin'Christmas Time's A-Comin'Christmas Time's A-Comin' is the title of an album of Christmas music released in late 1994 by American country music singer Sammy Kershaw. His first seasonal project, it comprises a mix of traditional songs and newly-recorded material...
(1994) - Jimmy BuffettJimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
– Christmas IslandChristmas Island (album)Christmas Island is a 1996 collection of Jimmy Buffett's Christmas-themed music and is his 22nd studio album. It features covers of popular Christmas songs in Buffett's musical stylings as well as two tracks which Buffett wrote for the album. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a hidden...
(1996) - Reba McEntireReba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
– The Secret of Giving: A Christmas CollectionThe Secret of Giving: A Christmas CollectionThe Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection is Reba McEntire's twenty-fifth album, and second Christmas album, the follow-up to her 1987 album Merry Christmas to You. The album features mostly new, original holiday tunes with only a couple of traditional favorites...
(2003) - George StraitGeorge StraitGeorge Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
– Fresh Cut ChristmasFresh Cut ChristmasFresh Cut Christmas is an album of Christmas music recorded by country music artist George Strait. The 10 classical Christmas songs were picked by Strait for this album. "Fresh Cut Christmas" album was available exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown stores during November and December 2006...
(2006) and Classic ChristmasClassic Christmas (George Strait album)Classic Christmas is an album of Christmas music recorded by country music artist George Strait. It was released by MCA Nashville on October 7, 2008...
(2008) - Bradley JosephBradley JosephBradley Joseph is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".Active...
– Classic ChristmasClassic Christmas (Bradley Joseph album)Classic Christmas is the 15th studio album by Bradley Joseph released in 2008 on the Robbins Island Music label."Christmas classics performed on the piano."...
(2008) - Eddy ArnoldEddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
– Eddy Arnold Christmas Album (1962) - Alvin and the ChipmunksAlvin and the ChipmunksAlvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
– Christmas with The ChipmunksChristmas with The ChipmunksChristmas with The Chipmunks is a Christmas music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released in 1961, and contains 12 tracks. The tracks from this and its follow-up album, Christmas with The Chipmunks, Vol. 2 have been in continuous circulation since their original releases...
(1961) - Fariborz LachiniFariborz LachiniFariborz Lachini is a film score composer originally from Iran based in Canada.-Career:He started his career in Iran writing music for children, creating "Avaz Faslha va Rangha" at the age of 18 which caught the attention of royal family of the time. The title of national Iranian TV's children...
- Christmas Piano - Solo Piano with Sheet Music (2009) - PomplamoosePomplamoosePomplamoose is an American indie music duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn. The band formed in the summer of 2008 and sold approximately 100,000 songs online in 2009.-Etymology:...
– Hyundai ElantraHyundai ElantraLaunched in 1990 , the Elantra received a mid-term facelift in 1993.The Elantra was powered by a Mitsubishi-designed 1.6 L straight-4 This DOHC 16-valve 1.6 L unit produced 113 hp at 6000 rpm and could push the Elantra to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds...
television commercial' and their EP Pomplamoose Christmas (2010)
Kimberley Locke version
In 2005, the song was brought back to life with a new recording by Kimberley LockeKimberley Locke
Kimberley Dawn Locke is an American singer-songwriter and model. She has recorded in the dance, pop and adult contemporary music genres....
. The recording broke a Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
record when it made the largest leap into the Top 5 in the AC chart's history, moving from 32 to 5 in only a week. It was also the second longest Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
holiday AC chart topper in the chart's history, sitting at #1 for 4 consecutive weeks.
| Kimberley Locke Kimberley Locke Kimberley Dawn Locke is an American singer-songwriter and model. She has recorded in the dance, pop and adult contemporary music genres.... Version |
|
|---|---|
| Chart (2005/2006) | Peak Position |
| US Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
1 |
| Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents | 15 |
| Top AC Singles of 2006 Billboard Year-End Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November... |
36 |