North to Alaska

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Johnny Horton

About North to Alaska

"North to Alaska" is a 1960 hit song recorded by Johnny Horton that was featured in the movie of the same name. Though Horton had sung several popular movie tie-in songs, this was the first one that was sung over the opening titles. The song's lyrics during the opening titles of the film provide a back story for the point where the film begins: Sam McCord left Seattle in 1892 with George and Billy Pratt, "crossed the Yukon river" and "found the bonanza gold below that old white mountain just a little southeast of Nome. " By "1901" Sam was known as "a mighty man," and his partner George then tells him, "I'd trade all the gold that's buried in this land for one small band of gold to place on sweet little Jenny's hand." George feels that Jenny is his "true love," and he declares he will "build for my Jenny a honeymoon home" below the same mountain where gold was discovered. An instrumental of the song is also played at the saloon on a piano when Sam and Angel arrive in Nome. Written by Tillman Franks and Johnny Horton, "North to Alaska" topped Billboard magazine's Country Singles chart, reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eight on Norway Singles Chart. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. Horton died in an automobile accident 5 November 1960 shortly after the song was released. 


Year:
1961
2:52
907 
#7

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Johnny Horton

John Gale "Johnny" Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s. With them, he had several major successes, most notably during 1959 with the song "The Battle of New Orleans" (written by Jimmy Driftwood), which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, and during 2001 ranked No. 333 of the Recording Industry Association of America's "Songs of the Century". more »

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14 facts about this song

Song Artist
"North To Alaska" is sung by Johnny Horton, an American country music, honky tonk and rockabilly singer and musician, who had a string of hits during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Title Inspiration
The song "North to Alaska" was inspired by the film of the same name. The 1960 film is about gold prospectors in Alaska during the Yukon Gold Rush.
Release Year
"North to Alaska" was released as a single in 1960.
Song Genre
The song belongs to the country and honky-tonk genres.
Chart Performance
"North to Alaska" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of Johnny Horton's most popular songs.
Singer's Demise
Tragically, Johnny Horton died in a car crash just a few weeks after "North to Alaska" was released.
Song Themes
The song tells the story of a miner in the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, who on his way to the gold fields in Alaska meets a woman named "Gypsy" and they fall in love.
Film Connection
In the movie "North to Alaska", Horton's song is played over the opening credits.
Songwriters
The song was written by Tilman Franks and Johnny Horton.
Song Legacy
Despite being over 60 years old, "North to Alaska" is still frequently played in country and classic hits radio, and remains a staple in Johnny Horton's discography.
Recognition
In 1999, National Public Radio included this song in the "NPR 100," in which NPR's music editors sought to compile the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century.
Covers
The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including Hank Williams Jr and Boxcar Willie.
Album
"North To Alaska" is included in Johnny Horton's most successful album "Greatest Hits".
Song Duration
The song has a duration of approximately 3 minutes and 5 seconds.

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    North to Alaska

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1960

    Billboard #4


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