Rina Ketty - Padre (1952) (Original)

[Winston]

Song is written by: Larue, Romans, and Webster
It was originally recorded by Rina Ketty in the year 1952
Original title: "Padre Don José"

[drjohncarpenter]

Song is written by: Larue, Romans, and Webster
It was originally recorded by Rina Ketty in the year 1952
Original title: "Padre Don José"

This isn't accurate.

The French recording of "Padre Don José" was originally released by Gloria Lasso in July 1957, with Rina Kelly's single following later that same year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Lasso


Here's Lasso's 1957 single, and a 1957 French TV appearance excerpt:











After English lyrics were composed, Toni Arden took "Padre" into the top twenty in the U.S. in the summer of 1958.





Toni Arden "Padre" (Decca 30628, April 26, 1958)
Cash Box "Best Selling Singles" #12, June 21, 1958.
Billboard "Hot 100" #18, July 21, 1958.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padre_(song)

[Winston]

The first recording was made in either 1951 or 1952 by Rina Ketty and was released in
1952. Ketty was an Italian-born singer who moved to France in 1932 and became a
popular chansonnier, thanks to some extent to her accent.

She is perhaps best remembered for songs such as "Sombreros et
Mantilles" and the everlasting "J'attendrai." However, her fame
deserted her to a large extent in France after the war and she moved to
Québec in 1954, where she continued a successful touring career.
She returned to France in the mid 1960s, but to little success, so she
decided to retire.

Rina Ketty died just before Christmas in 1996.

English lyrics to "Padre" were provided in the mid 1950s by Paul Francis Webster.
Toni Arden had a million-seller with the number in 1958, reaching number 13
in the Billboard Hot 100. During an interview in 1958, Elvis stated that this was
his favourite song.

Marty Robbins also had a number 5 hit in 1970. The melody seems to be based,
at least in part, on a traditional Mexican song, perhaps dating back to the 19th
century, called "La Paloma Azul," the origins of which are difficult to ascertain.
The song became known generally when it was used in a program of Mexican music,
arranged by Carlos Chávez, in May 1940 at the New York Museum of Modern Art.
Chávez included an eight-minute arrangement of the number, which was
referred to as being "typical of the genre of peasant sentimental song" in the museum's
press release prior to the event.

from Roots of Elvis - Copyright © 2017, David Neale

[drjohncarpenter]

It feels like you didn't even read my reply. Responding with only a "cut-and-paste" is a little cold.

Again, the information is inaccurate.

I did research, nothing was found in print media or industry magazines from Rina Ketty until November 1957, and a brief mention of the song "Padre Don José" in a "Dee-Jays" column from Ottawa. Nothing earlier.

Among other resources, the Discogs site lists a 45 by "Padre Don José" by Ketty in . . . 1957:

https://www.discogs.com/master/2466640-Rina-Ketty-Padre-Don-Jose-Fiesta-Creole


Common sense tells us if this melody appeared in 1952 it would have been translated a lot sooner than 1958 for U.S. pop audiences.

That Gloria Lasso released and performed it in 1957 on record and TV overseas has to be a key reason it got noticed and updated for the American market.

https://www.discogs.com/master/1398859-Gloria-Lasso-Orchestre-Direction-F-Pourcel-7-Padre-Don-Jos%C3%A9

If you have something more than a website cut-and-paste, please share it.

The first recording was made in either 1951 or 1952 by Rina Ketty and was released in
1952. Ketty was an Italian-born singer who moved to France in 1932 and became a
popular chansonnier, thanks to some extent to her accent.

She is perhaps best remembered for songs such as "Sombreros et
Mantilles" and the everlasting "J'attendrai." However, her fame
deserted her to a large extent in France after the war and she moved to
Québec in 1954, where she continued a successful touring career.
She returned to France in the mid 1960s, but to little success, so she
decided to retire.

Rina Ketty died just before Christmas in 1996.

English lyrics to "Padre" were provided in the mid 1950s by Paul Francis Webster.
Toni Arden had a million-seller with the number in 1958, reaching number 13
in the Billboard Hot 100. During an interview in 1958, Elvis stated that this was
his favourite song.

Marty Robbins also had a number 5 hit in 1970. The melody seems to be based,
at least in part, on a traditional Mexican song, perhaps dating back to the 19th
century, called "La Paloma Azul," the origins of which are difficult to ascertain.
The song became known generally when it was used in a program of Mexican music,
arranged by Carlos Chávez, in May 1940 at the New York Museum of Modern Art.
Chávez included an eight-minute arrangement of the number, which was
referred to as being "typical of the genre of peasant sentimental song" in the museum's
press release prior to the event.

from Roots of Elvis - Copyright © 2017, David Neale

[Winston]

...
It feels like you didn't even read my reply. Responding with only a "cut-and-paste" is a little cold ...

Oh, sorry Doc. This should not be cold. I read your post. You know i always be
thankful for your answers.

Maybe the book "Roots of Elvis" is not so good as I thought.

[drjohncarpenter]

...
It feels like you didn't even read my reply. Responding with only a "cut-and-paste" is a little cold ...

Oh, sorry Doc. This should not be cold. I read your post. You know i always be
thankful for your answers.

Maybe the book "Roots of Elvis" is not so good as I thought.

Thanks. It's a terrific book, but it's very hard to get everything right.

Below are two websites that note the original release of "Padre Don José" . . . in 1957, by Gloria Lasso:

https://www.originals.be/en/originals/9043
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/149682/versions


And, finally, here's the definitive source for the origin of "Padre Don José," from the Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series - Music Jul-Dec 1957, published by the Library of Congress, Copyright Office:

PADRE DON JOSE; paroles de Jacques
Larue, musique de Alain Romans.
Paris, Editions Pigalle.
© Editions Pigalle; 14Jun57;
EF23655.

https://books.google.com/books?id=NTIhAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1377

The original songwriters filed for a copyright in June 1957. It was neither recorded nor released in 1952.


'

[Winston]

Thanks a lot for the info, Doc.

[drjohncarpenter]

Thanks a lot for the info, Doc.

Also, the public statement Elvis made at the Brooklyn Army Terminal press conference in September 1958 mentions not one but TWO songs as current favorites. That seems to always get lost when folks refer to "Padre."





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhwpCbp5PbQ&t=333s

Elvis, most people have a song that is sort of special to them. Do you have a favorite song?

My favorite song is a song called “Padre.” Are you familiar with it, by Toni Arden?

And also, “You'll Never Walk Alone” was always one of my very favorites.

- Brooklyn Army Terminal press conference, Monday, September 22, 1958

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