On this day, February 10, 1942, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" became the first recording to be awarded a Gold record

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Hat tip, This Day in Music

What Happened Today In Music

February 10th

1942 - Glen Miller

'Chattanooga Choo Choo' by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra became the first recording to be awarded a Gold record. It was actually just a master copy of the disc sprayed with gold lacquer by RCA as a publicity stunt. The actual award recognized today as a Gold Record would not be initiated for another sixteen years when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) borrowed the idea and trademarked the Gold Record. The first Gold single was awarded to Perry Como in 1958 for 'Catch A Falling Star' and the first Gold album was given to Gordon McRae for the soundtrack to 'Oklahoma'.

That's Tex Beneke whistling and singing when he's not busy playing the saxophone.

This is the video shown in the PBS begathons. If this breaks for an ad in the middle for you too, I'll find another one. Some are truncated. They don't show the whole eight minutes.

Glenn Miller - Chattanooga Choo Choo - Sun Valley Serenade (1941) HQ
10,198,795 views Aug 16, 2009

jetiwarrior
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Sun Valley Serenade is the first of the only two movies featuring The Glenn Miller Orchestra (the other is 1942's Orchestra Wives). Besides "Chattanooga Choo Choo", other Glenn Miller tunes in the film are "Moonlight Serenade", "It Happened in Sun Valley", "I Know Why (and So Do You)", and "In the Mood".

Fri Feb 10, 2023: On February 10, 1942, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" became the first recording to be awarded a Gold record

Thu Feb 10, 2022: On February 10, 1942, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" became the first recording to be awarded a Gold record