Charge (fanfare)

"Charge" is a short fanfare frequently played at sporting events.

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History

"Charge" was written by Tommy Walker while a junior at the University of Southern California in the fall of 1946.[1] The fanfare consists of six notes followed by rooters shouting, "Charge!"[2] Occasionally, the fanfare is repeated one or more times in the same key or in successively higher keys, or is preceded by a lead-in vamp.

In 1958 the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and in the spring of 1959 the Dodgers put on sale, at $1.50 apiece, 20,000 toy trumpets capable of playing the six notes of the "Charge" fanfare. The fanfare was heard in NBC broadcasts of games 3, 4 and 5 of the 1959 World Series between the Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.

It also appeared in the original The Flintstones 1960s television cartoon series (episode dates uncertain), followed by "Charge!" or "Charge it!", shouted by characters (typically Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble) on the way to a shopping spree.[1]

Bobby Kent, former musical director of the San Diego Chargers, has claimed he invented the "Charge" fanfare in 1978 while working for the Chargers.[1][3] Kent filed suit against ASCAP for negotiating licenses with MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA and NASCAR while failing to secure his consent. The Lakers settled with Kent for $3,000.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Paul Collins (July 21, 2011). "You Say It's Your Birthday". Slate magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-09. Wikipedia entries since 2007 attributed the song to 1940s University of Southern California composer Tommy Walker—a contention bolstered by a link to Sports Illustrated's online archive, which featured Walker's own story of the tune's composition with co-writer Dick Winslow.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Bruce (November 12, 1990). "Give Him Credit For The Charge". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ Garcia-Roberts, Gus. "Bobby Kent Claims He Invented "Da Da Da Da Da Da Charge!" And Wants to Cash In". Miami New Times. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Calcaterra, Craig. "The guy who composed "da-da-da-da-da-da … Charge!" is suing everyone". Retrieved 23 April 2011.