| Two sisters,Mildred Hill,a teacher at the
Louisville,Kentucky Experimental Kindergarten.and Dr Patty Hill,the principal of
the same school,together wrote a song for the children,entitled"Good Morning to
All"．When Mildred combined her musical talents，as the resident experton
spiritual songs,and as the organist for her church,with her sister's expertise
in the area of kindergarten education,"Good Morning to All"was sure to be a
success． The sisters published the song in a collection entitled"Song Stories of the Kindergarten"in 1893.31 years later,after Dr Patty Hill became the head of the Department of Kindergarten Education at Columbia University's Teacher College,a gentleman by the name of Robert H.Coleman published the song,without the sisters'permission．To sdd insult to injury,he added asecond verse,the familiar"Happy Birthday to You"． Mr.Coleman's addition of the second verse popularized the song and,eventually,the sistersoriginal first verse disappeared."Happy Birthday to You",the one and only birthday song,hadalthgether replaced the sisters'original title."Good Morning to All"． After Mildred died in 1916,Patty,together with a third sister named Jessica,sprang intoaction and took Mr.Coleman to court.In court,they proved that they,indeed,owned the melody.Because the family legally owns the song,it is entitled to royalties from it,whenever it is sungfor commercial purposes． |