program notes by composition > M > The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The
Eddie Pola and George Wyle/arr. John Moss
In 1963 The Andy Williams Christmas Album made it to the top of the Billboard Pop Albums chart with the first track, “White Christmas”, reaching #1 as a pop single. Also on that album was Williams’ rendition of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Nearly 50 years later that classic album and this song remain very popular.
George Wyle (1916-2003), born Bernard Weissman, was an American composer, educator, author, conductor, arranger, and a specialist in both professional and amateur choral work. One of his most famous compositions is the theme song to Gilligan’s Island . Wyle’s chief musical collaborator was Eddie Pola (1907-1995), composer of over 400 popular songs. Wyle and Pola worked with many promi- nent pop artists in the middle of the last century, including Kate Smith, the Deep River Boys, Doris Day, Dennis Day, Howard Keel, Jerry Lewis, Flip Wilson, Jimmy Durante, Dinah Shore and Andy Williams.
Last updated on December 27, 2015 by Palatine Concert Band