Digital Archive @ GSU

'To The Cow Country': The Musical Landscape of Gordon Jenkins' San Fernando Valley

This presentation follows the 1944 smash hit song written by Gordon Jenkins for a Roy Rogers' film of the same name. Various versions of "San Fernando Valley" are examined including those of Bing Crosby, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and, finally, a scathing hillbilly answer song by Moon Mullican that specifically addressed the attraction of the San Fernando Valley to migrants from the South. The success of the "San Fernando Valley" song in depicting the area as the embodiment of rural culture helped identify the region to droves of returning GIs, as well as those of the Southern Diaspora, ultimately helping to usher in urbanization. As the popularity of the "San Fernando Valley" tune bridged oceans as well as genres, its success on American Armed Forces Radio overseas, as well as the foreign versions it spawned, will be examined. Special attention will be given to Johnny Mercer, a long-time collaborator of Gordon Jenkins, and his contribution to the region's popularity.