As we all know, last May was the final performance of Jim Nabors singing
“Back Home Again In Indiana” at the Indianapolis 500.
One of the oft-told stories – including by Nabors himself – is that
Tony Hulman made a last-minute request for Nabors to sing the beloved tune.
The short version is that because Peter DePaolo, the 1925 winner, sang
so poorly before the 1971 race Hulman was compelled to find a professional
singer the next year.
Legend has it this mysterious
performer didn’t show, putting Hulman in a bind.
So he asked if Nabors wanted to sing. Supposedly, Nabors thought he
meant “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Nope. “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
Which Nabors knew – somewhat.
He performed it – beautifully – basically off the cuff, with no rehearsal,
with the Purdue band.
Nabors operated that way –no rehearsals – for the next 40-plus years as
he became a beloved fixture on race day.
Great story, right?
Except it doesn’t appear to be true.
Earlier this year, I bought a copy of the Saturday, May 27, 1972 edition of
the Indianapolis Star on eBay. You know, the edition that came out the morning
of race day.
On the front page, it lists the order of events.
Which includes:
10:50 a.m. “Back Home Again in Indiana” by Jim Nabors (see for yourself)
So it appears Nabors did know
he was singing that day.
Or maybe Hulman told the paper, but forgot to tell Nabors.
Shazam! Golly!
Jim Nabors photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
No comments:
Post a Comment