Dear Hearts and Gentle People

"Dear Hearts and Gentle People"
Song
Published	1949
Composer(s)	Sammy Fain
Lyricist(s)	Bob Hilliard

"Dear Hearts and Gentle People" is a popular song published in 1949 with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Bob Hilliard. They were inspired to write the song based on a scrap of paper with the words "Dear friends and gentle hearts" written on it that was found on the body of Stephen Foster when he was discovered in a New York hotel room in January 1864.

Popular versions were recorded in 1949 by Dinah Shore, Gordon MacRae, Bing Crosby and Dennis Day. In the United Kingdom, the song was recorded by Doreen Lundy. Later recordings were made by Perry Como in 1959 and again in 1980. The song references the singer's hometown, and different versions allude to a range of U.S. states.

The Dinah Shore recording was recorded on September 9, 1949, and released by Columbia Records (as catalog number 38605). This version alludes to Tennessee, Shore's home state. The recording first appeared on the Billboard charts on November 19, 1949, lasting 17 weeks and peaking at position number two.

The Gordon MacRae recording was recorded on October 21, 1949, and released by Capitol Records (as catalog number 777). It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard charts. The flip side was "Mule Train," which MacRae recorded October 1, 1949.

The Bing Crosby recording was recorded on October 26, 1949, and released by Decca Records (as catalog number 24798). This version mentions Idaho, close to Crosby's home state of Washington. The flip side was "Mule Train". The recording first appeared on the Billboard charts on December 3, 1949, lasting 17 weeks and peaking at number two.

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