A Look Back With Doug: Tom Glazer

Today (Feb. 21), marks the anniversary of the death of Tom Glazer, when he died in 2003. You probably remember Tom Glazer best for the song 'On Top of Spaghetti' that is hard to believe came out in 1963.

I grew up eating a lot of pasta, with half of my ancestry from Sicily. I can recall singing this song in the early days of my childhood and still to this day kids sing it. Kids may only recognize it as a nursery rhyme, but it was Tom Glazer with the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus that brought it to light, allegedly done as a play on words of 'On Top of Old Smoky'.

While Glazer is most remembered for this song, it should be noted he was a composer that also had some popular songs, with 'Because All Men Are Brothers', recorded by The Weavers and 'Talking Inflation Blues', recorded by Bob Dylan.

This isn't your ordinary tribute, but I do feel the need to go eat some spaghetti and meatballs now, but here is 'On Top of Spaghetti' for your listening pleasure and to remember Tom Glazer.