1947.

The inner jukebox is winning at distraction tactics this morning. I’m now far too focussed on why there’s a Christmas song in my head in May…and not on today’s date. Well played my friend, well played.

This was written by US singer, actor, and rodeo performer Gene Autry, who gained fame as the Singing Cowboy. Inspiration for the song came after he took part in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade, now better known as the Hollywood Christmas Parade, when he heard the crowd chanting “Here comes Santa Claus“.

The first recording of the song was a demo by country music star Johnny Bond, who used ice cubes to recreate the sound of sleigh bells. This move inspired Autry to include actual sleigh bells in his own recording.

On its release the song became a top ten hit in the US, reaching number five on the Country chart and number nine on the pop chart, and later featured in the 1949 film The Cowboy and the Indians, performed by Autry.

Over the decades this has been covered by countless artists including Bing Crosby, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan and even Billy Idol – to name just a few from the long, long list.