"North to Alaska" is a 1960 hit song recorded by

Johnny Horton John LaGale Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Initially performing traditional country, Horton later performed rockabilly songs. He is best known for a series of history-inspired narrat ...

that was featured in the movie of the same name. The song was written by Mike Phillips, along with Tillman Franks. Though Horton had sung several popular

movie tie-in A tie-in work is a work of fiction or other product based on a media property such as a film, video game, television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are authorized by the owners of the original prope ...

songs, this was the first one that was sung over the opening titles. Horton died in an automobile accident November 5, 1960 two days before the movie was released. Members of the

Western Writers of America Western Writers of America (WWA), founded 1953, promotes literature, both fictional and nonfictional, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional Western fiction, the more than 600 current members also include historian ...

chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Background

The song's lyrics during the opening titles of the film provide a back story for the point where the film begins: Sam McCord left Seattle in 1892 with George and Billy Pratt, "crossed the Yukon river" and "found the bonanza gold below that old white mountain just a little southeast of Nome." By "1901" Sam was known as "a mighty man", and his partner George then tells him, "I'd trade all the gold that's buried in this land for one small band of gold to place on sweet little Jenny's hand." George feels that Jenny is his "true love", and he declares he will "build for my Jenny a honeymoon home" below the same mountain where gold was discovered. An instrumental of the song is also played at the saloon on a piano when Sam and Angel arrive in Nome. The bass singing portion is done by

Rusty Goodman Charles F. "Rusty" Goodman (September 2, 1933 – November 11, 1990) was an American singer/songwriter in the Southern Gospel Music industry. He was a prolific composer whose many songs included "Standing in the Presence of the King", "Leavin' ...

Chart performance

"North to Alaska" topped ''

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'' magazine's Country Singles chart, reached number four on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and eight on Norway Singles Chart.

References

Johnny Horton songs 1960 singles Songs about Alaska Songs written by Tillman Franks Songs written by Johnny Horton Columbia Records singles 1960 songs Number-one singles in Canada Song recordings produced by Don Law {{1960s-country-song-stub