"Soldier Boy" is a song written by

Luther Dixon Luther Dixon (August 7, 1931 – October 22, 2009) was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Dixon's songs achieved their greatest success in the 1950s and 1960s, and were recorded by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Jackson 5, B. ...

and

Florence Greenberg Florence Greenberg (September 16, 1913 – November 2, 1995) was an American record label owner, music executive, and record producer. Greenberg was the founder and owner of Tiara Records, Scepter Records, Hob Records, and Wand Records. She is ...

and made famous by the girl group

the Shirelles The Shirelles were an American girl group formed in Passaic, New Jersey in 1957. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie "Micki" Harris (later Addie Harris McFadd ...

Background

Record executive Florence Greenberg, founder of Scepter Records (the Shirelles' record label), wrote the song and was originally titled "I'll Be True to You". The main frame of the song's lyrics make no mention of a soldier. It was only while recording at

Bell Sound Studios Bell Sound Studios was an independent recording studio in New York City from 1950 to 1976. At its height, the studio was the largest independent recording studio in the United States, and the site of recording sessions that produced seminal hits by ...

that the Shirelles gave the song a much better title to reflect its narrative, the profession of someone's love for the titular soldier boy in which she promises to remain true to him while he's away. The song was released as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

The Shirelles The Shirelles were an American girl group formed in Passaic, New Jersey in 1957. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie "Micki" Harris (later Addie Harris McFadd ...

in 1962 and met with great success, topping the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

In popular culture

* The recording was used in the film '' The Wanderers'' (1979). * The recording was used in the film ''

Born on the Fourth of July ''Born on the Fourth of July'', published in 1976, is the best-selling autobiography by Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran who became an anti-war activist. Kovic was born on July 4, 1946, and his book's ironic title echoed a famous line ...

'' (1989) * Actress

Brittany Murphy Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack (; November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009) was an American actress and singer. Born in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and pursued a career in acting. Her breakthrough role was as Tai Fras ...

sings the song in the 2001 movie ''

Riding in Cars with Boys ''Riding in Cars with Boys'' is a 2001 American biographical film based on the autobiography of the same name by Beverly Donofrio, about a woman who overcame difficulties, including being a teen mother, and who later earned a master's degree. The ...

''. * The recording was used in the television series 11.22.63 (2016) episode 7 ''Soldier Boy''

Charts

Cover versions

* "Soldier Boy" was covered by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist

Donna Fargo Donna may refer to the short form of the honorific ''nobildonna'', the female form of Don (honorific) in Italian. People * Donna (given name); includes name origin and list of people and characters with the name * Roberto Di Donna (born 1968), ...

in 1991. Her version peaked at number 71 on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. * It was covered by Diane Renay in 1964. * "Soldier Boy" was covered too by the Mexican children's group La Onda Vaselina in 1989, titled "Yo te esperaré" and adapted by the composer and Mexican singer Julissa.

References

Songs about soldiers The Shirelles songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles 1962 songs Songs written by Luther Dixon Scepter Records singles 1962 singles Donna Fargo songs {{1960s-pop-song-stub