Tennessee Waltz Lead Sheet Manuscript
The 1946 Tennessee Waltz
original sheet music, or lead sheet
, is handwritten on a piece of music paper with preprinted staffs. The manuscript bears the crossed-out and penciled-in substitutions for lyrics in the bridge. Pee Wee King noted to his biographers that he and Redd Stewart changed the bridge of the original composition after their publisher, Fred Rose, made suggestions.
Dates
- 1946 December
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Tennessee Waltz
is a popular country music song written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in December 1946. The song, made famous by Patti Page in 1950, would later become one of Tennessee’s official state songs. The manuscript is a handwritten lead sheet composed on a piece of music paper and includes penciled-in substitutions for lyrics in the bridge.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Tennessee Waltz
is a popular country music song written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in December 1946. The song, made famous by singer Patti Page in 1950, would later become one of Tennessee’s official state songs, be recorded by more than 500 musical artists, and sell more than 10 million copies.
Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart wrote Tennessee Waltz
on the back of a large matchbox while traveling with their entertainment troupe, the Golden West Cowboys, to Nashville from a show in Texas. Upon returning to Nashville, King and Stewart transferred the song from the matchbox onto a sheet of music paper and delivered it to music publisher Fred Rose. The Golden West Cowboys recorded and released the song in 1948.
Custodial History
From Tennessee Today: The donors purchased the manuscript from Joyce Collins Ball. Ball and her sister, Darlene, were members of the Collins Sisters and performed with the Golden West Cowboys entertainment troupe when the song was written. From Knoxville News Sentinel: The donors purchased the manuscript from the estate of Redd Stewart.
Acquisition Note
This sheet music was donated to the University of Tennessee by Lamar and Honey Alexander; Ashley and Lew Conner; Denise and Steve Smith; and Colleen and Ted Welch in September 2013.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository