The Story of “Let There Be Peace On Earth”
by Philip J. Rogers
Sy Miller and Jill Jackson were a husband and wife songwriting team who in 1955 wrote a song about their dream of peace for the world and how they believed each one of us could help create it. They first introduced the song to a group of teenagers selected to attend a weeklong retreat in California. The young people were purposefully from different religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, brought together to experiment with creating understanding and friendship through education, discussion groups, and living and working together in a camp situation. Sy Miller wrote in his own words what happened:
“One summer evening in 1955, a group of 180 teenagers of all races and religions, meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains locked arms, formed a circle and sang a song of peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment, Let there be peace on earth and let it
begin with me, helped to create a climate for world peace and understanding.
‘When they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with them and started sharing it. And, as though on wings, Let There Be Peace on Earth began an amazing journey around the globe. The song spread overseas to Holland, England, Italy, France, Germany, Lebanon, Japan, India; to South America, Central America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Maoris in New Zealand sang it. The Zulus in Africa sang it.”
Professional singers began performing it. Among them were Tennessee Ernie Ford, Andy Williams, Danny Kaye, Nat King Cole, Placido Domingo, Edie Adams, Gladys Knight, Mahalia Jackson, John Gary, Pearl Bailey, the International Children’s’ Choir, Gisele MacKenzie, Pat Boone, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Harry Connick Jr., Johnny Mathis, the Norman Luboff Choir and many more. Television shows with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, The Boston Pops, and Ted Mack have also used the song.
Now a favorite in congregations and academic settings internationally we join in experiencing this amazing gifted prayer. You can read this entire story on the following link: http://www.jan-leemusic.com/Site/History.html
A Morman Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra performance of the song can be experienced on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-_Qw48KqT0&feature=share
Enjoy!
The NWUUC Book Groupies will be meeting Tuesday, November 10th at 7 pm on Zoom to discuss Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Princeton Universitiy’s James S. McDowell Distinguished Professor of African American Studies. Begin Again is a reexamination of the writings of James Baldwin and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. A “beautifully written and achingly wrenching” book that might change you forever.
Watch the documentary Stare Into The Lights My Pretties on your own and then join a virtual discussion on Zoom!
