Music is an important part in our Galesburg Rotary club meetings. Our club sings a song or two almost every time we meet. The songs we sing are generally selected from an older edition of the Rotary Songbook which we have used for many years.
The first official ROTARY Songbook was published in 1925 and revised periodically since that time. The latest Rotary Songbook available from RI was published in 1999. It was compiled by the International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians who made the selections based on a survey of some clubs and their songleaders. Some of the songs included in the latest release are arrangements designed for four part harmony. Many familiar songs and tunes are included allowing for copyright restrictions. Also included in the book, is a list of the Rotary International Presidents' Theme Songs for the years 1978 to 1999. A collection of these is available from the IFORM group.
There are many songs that were written with Rotary as their theme. Some have original music. Some are sung to another familiar tune. I am in the process of researching the source and history of these songs. If you have any pertinent information on this subject, please contact me at bnear@mac.com. In the meantime.... some of the titles are:
| R-O-T-A-R-Y words and music were written by Norris C. Morgan, a member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington, Delaware. It was copyrighted in 1923 by the club and is included in the Rotary Songbook by courtesy of the club. |
Sing! Everyone, Sing! words by Walter Jenkins, who was a song leader for International Assemblies and International Conventions for more than 40 years. |
Rotary, My Rotary words by Herbert H. Stalker Tune: O' Tannenbaum |
| Ro-Ro-Rotary words
and music by J. Horace Smithey and Edwin Earle Ferguson to the
Rotary Club of Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland Tune: Row-Row-Row Your Boat |
Rotary Will Go Round The World words by Walter Jenkins, who was a song leader for International Assemblies and International Conventions for more than 40 years. |
Rotary Bonds words by Charles H. Velte |
| Vive le Rotary words by Morton Hull Tune: Vive le Compagnie |
Hail! Cherished Rotary words and music by Wm. H. Richardson and Alexis Lvoff |
The 4-Way Test |
| Hail, Rotary words and music by Clyde D. Sandgren of the Rotary Club of Provo, Utah; copyright 1977; Respectfully dedicated to Marion D. Hanks, Governor of District 542 from 1977 to 1978 |
Rotary words and music by E. June Wyckoff; copyright 1972 |
This Is Rotary! words and music by Harvey L. Woodruff of the Rotary Club of Dilworth, Charlotte, North Carolina; copyright 1971 |
![]() Monmouth Rotary Singers RealPlayer - 880K |
![]() Monmouth Rotary Singers RealPlayer - 770K |
![]() Monmouth Rotary Singers RealPlayer - 770K |
| A Rotary Prayer | Sing Out A Song of Rot'ry words by Bill Ives Tune: Give My Regards to Broadway |
World Understanding And Peace Through Rotary |
| The Rotary Bell | That Rotary Wheel | Sing A Song To Rotary |
| All Hail to Rotary | Around the Hub | Sing Rotarians words by Dr. J. P. Schroeder Tune: On Wisconsin |
| Parting Song | God Bless Our Rotary | That's Rotary |
| A Helping Hand | Rotary's A Grand Old Name | Paul Harris Song |
| The Rotary Call | Rotary International |