Pop Music

Paul Petersen’s acting career started at the age of 10 when he appeared as a Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club. In 1958 he co-starred in the movie Houseboat with Cary Grant and Sofia Loren. Petersen became a superstar when he played Jeff Stone on ABC Television’s iconic sitcom The Donna Reed Show . The show aired from 1958 through 1966 and was in syndicated reruns for many years thereafter.

“My Dad,” written by the music biz dynamic duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was recorded with plenty of echo on Petersen’s voice, a small rock beat, and a haunting French horn duet in the background. It was introduced on The Donna Reed Show  in 1962 when Petersen sang the song to his on-screen father, Alex Stone, played by Carl Betz. “My Dad” was released later in 1962 on the Colpix label, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Here are the lyrics to “My Dad” by Paul Petersen:

“He isn’t much in the eyes of the world, he’ll never make history.
He isn’t much in the eyes of the world, but he is the world to me.

My dad.

Now here is the man, to me he is everything strong no he can’t do wrong, my dad.

My dad.

Now he understands, when I bring him trouble to share ah he’s always there, my dad.

When I was small I felt ten feet tall when I was by his side, and everyone would say that his son, and my heart would burst with pride.

My dad.

Oh I love him so, and I only hope that someday my own son would say, my dad.

Now here is the man.”

For another song by Paul Petersen: “She Can’t Find Her Keys.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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