Kate Smith
Her powerful, reassuring voice became the soundtrack of American patriotism during World War II, most famously with 'God Bless America.'
1907–1986 (age 79)·American contralto·Birthday: May 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Kate Smith possessed a voice that was less about subtle artistry and more about formidable, comforting presence. Discovered on Broadway, she found her true medium in radio, where her rich contralto could fill a living room with unwavering confidence. Her career was a masterclass in branding; she was 'The Songbird of the South' (despite a Washington, D.C. upbringing) and 'The First Lady of Radio.' Her defining moment came when composer Irving Berlin, remembering a song he'd written decades earlier, asked her to introduce 'God Bless America' on her show in 1938. Smith's sincere, robust delivery resonated deeply with a nation on the brink of war, and the song became her anthem. For years, she opened her broadcasts with it, selling war bonds with formidable success and becoming, for millions, a vocal symbol of national unity and resilience.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Kate was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kate Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Kate's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Died at 79
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
Key Achievements
- First performed Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America' on her radio show in 1938, making it a national standard.
- Her radio show, which ran for nearly two decades, was one of the most popular and influential of its time.
- Raised over $600 million in war bonds during World War II through relentless radio marathon broadcasts.
- Hosted the first televised variety show, 'The Kate Smith Hour,' in the early 1950s.
Did You Know?
She was a talented ice skater in her youth and initially pursued a career in nursing before turning to music.
Smith was a lifelong fan of baseball and was famously adopted as a good luck charm by the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team in the 1970s.
She recorded over 3,000 songs during her career.
Frank Sinatra once said of her voice, 'It's the only one that gives me a cold chill.'
“When the American people put their trust in a person, that person has an obligation to give their best at all times.”
