Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a song written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company.
n 1939 Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May, created the character Rudolph as an assignment for Montgomery Ward, and Marks decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song. Marks (1909–1985) was a radio producer who also wrote several other popular Christmas songs.
The song had an added introduction, paraphrasing the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" (public domain by the time the song was written), stating the names of the eight reindeer which went:
"You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?"
The song was sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in early November 1949,[citation needed] before Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 in the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949. Autry's version of the song also holds the distinction of being the only chart-topping hit to fall completely off the chart after reaching No. 1. The official date of its No. 1 status was for the week ending January 7, 1950, making it the first No. 1 song of the 1950s.
The song was also performed on the December 6, 1949, Fibber McGee and Molly radio broadcast by Teeny (Marion Jordan's little girl character) and The Kingsmen vocal group. The lyrics varied greatly from the Autry version.[citation needed]
Autry's recording sold 1.75 million copies its first Christmas season, eventually selling a total of 12.5 million. Cover versions included, sales exceed 150 million copies, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".
Current owner of copyrights is Kobalt Music Group
1950: The song was recorded by Bing Crosby on June 22, 1950. His version reached No. 6 on Billboard magazine's Best Selling Children's Records chart and No. 14 on Billboard's pop singles chart that year.
1950: Spike Jones and his City Slickers released a version of the song that peaked at No. 7 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart and No. 8 on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart.
1951: Red Foley and The Little Foleys released a version of the song that peaked at No. 8 on Billboard magazine's Best Selling Children's Records chart.
1953: Billy May recorded a mambo version of the song titled "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo" with vocals by Alvin Stoller.
1957: The Cadillacs released a doo-wop version of the song that peaked at No. 11 on Billboard magazine's Rhythm & Blues Records chart.
1959: Dean Martin recorded the song for his album, A Winter Romance.
1959: Ray Conniff recorded the song for his album, Christmas with Conniff, which was designed as a presentation for dancing.
1960: Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded a popular cover for their album Around the World with The Chipmunks. They would record the song again for their 1961 album Christmas with The Chipmunks and their 1994 album A Very Merry Chipmunk as a duet with Gene Autry.
1960: Ella Fitzgerald recorded the song for her album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
1960: The Melodeers released a doo-wop version of the song that peaked at No. 72 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart.
1960: Paul Anka released a version of the song that peaked at No. 104 on Billboard magazine's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
1963: The Crystals recorded the song for the rock 'n' roll holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records, which was produced by Phil Spector.
1964: Ernest Tubb recorded a country version on his LP Blue Christmas.
1964: Burl Ives recorded the song for the soundtrack of the holiday TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The soundtrack album containing Ives' version reached No. 142 on the Billboard 200 albums sales chart. He would re-record the song the following year for his holiday album Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.
1965: The Supremes recorded the song for their holiday album, Merry Christmas.
1968: The Temptations released a version of the song that peaked at No. 12 on Billboard magazine's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Singles chart (this same version later got as high as No. 3 on the same chart in December 1971). Their version of the song was also included on the group's 1970 Christmas album, The Temptations Christmas Card.
1970: The Jackson 5 recorded the song for their holiday album, The Jackson 5 Christmas Album.
1977: Filipino singer Rico J. Puno covered the song for his holiday album, Christmas.
1979: Paul McCartney recorded an instrumental version of the song under the title Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae. It was released as the B-side of his first Christmas hit, Wonderful Christmastime.
1982: Merle Haggard recorded the song for his holiday album, Goin' Home for Christmas.
1985: Ray Charles recorded the song for his holiday album The Spirit of Christmas.
1985: Corey Hart performed the song live at a concert held at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in August 1985. The special collector's edition clear red vinyl 45-rpm single was released in October of that year.
1987: The California Raisins did a rendition of the song (largely based on The Temptations' 1968 version) for Will Vinton's A Claymation Christmas Celebration.
1989: The Simpsons performed the song during the end credits of their series' pilot episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
1990: Dolly Parton recorded the song for her holiday album, Home for Christmas.
1995: Mannheim Steamroller produced a techno-like synth-driven arrangement on their album Christmas in the Aire.
1996: Alan Jackson released a version of the song that peaked at No. 56 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
1996: The Wiggles recorded this song for their album, Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas. A year later, they sang it on their video, Wiggly Wiggly Christmas.
1996: Peach Hips, a group consisting of Kotono Mitsuishi, Aya Hisakawa, Rica Fukami, Emi Shinohara and Michie Tomizawa covered this song for a Christmas album coinciding with the fifth season of Sailor Moon.
1997: RuPaul recorded a version of the song with altered lyrics for the album Ho, Ho, Ho.
1998: Babyface recorded the song for his holiday album, Christmas with Babyface.
1998: Randy Travis performed the song during the opening titles of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.
1999: Jewel recorded the song for her holiday album, Joy: A Holiday Collection.
1999: Ringo Starr recorded the song for his holiday album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus.
2000: Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded the song for their holiday album, Christmas Time Again.
2001: Tony Bennett performed the song at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, ahead of the release of the direct-to-video CGI animated feature, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys.
2002: Jack Johnson recorded the song for a various artists holiday album released by Nettwerk Records and titled Maybe This Christmas (this same version was also released on the 2008 various artists holiday album, This Warm December: Brushfire Holiday Volume 1, which was released on Johnson's record label Brushfire Records).
2002: Kidz Bop Kids covered this song for the album Kidz Bop Christmas (2002). Also featured in The Coolest Kidz Bop Christmas Ever! (2007), and Kidz Bop Christmas (2009, 2011, 2012).
2003: Chicago released a jazz-funk arrangement of the song for their album, What's It Gonna Be, Santa
2004: Destiny's Child included the song on a reissue of their 2001 holiday album, 8 Days of Christmas.
2004: Rugrats characters Susie Carmichael, and Kimi Finster performed a rock version of the song for their 2004 album Rugrats Holiday Classics.
2007: 1910 Fruitgum Company recorded the song for their Christmas album, Bubblegum Christmas.
2007: Deathcore band I Declare War (band) recorded the song for their Bring the Season EP.
2009: Barry Manilow included the song in the re-release of his third Christmas album, In the Swing of Christmas.
2011: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy sing their version of the song in the Disney Karaoke Series: Christmas Favorites album.
2012: Rapper DMX performed an a cappella version of the song with his own ad-libs.
2012: Metalcore band August Burns Red recorded and released the song on their holiday album, August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill.
2013: Mary J. Blige sang the song on the finale of The X Factor (USA).
2016: Kacey Musgraves recorded a version of the song for her album A Very Kacey Christmas.
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