You are half correct. The story about the song is true (the store he references is the Kroger on Wisconsin in Peoria) but the tune is to 1812 Overture. He was messing around on the piano playing 1812 and penned the lyrics to it.
At least that is the story he told at his last concert here in Peoria in 2002.
Either way, we will truly miss him. Hometown boy makes good!
You are right. It’s late.
It is the 1812 Overture NOT William Tell
Overture. Thank you for the correction.
Thank you - I was sitting here running through “Hi Ho Silver Awaaaayyy!” and thinking, “nope.”
Now I’m humming “Puffs is the cereal that’s shot from guns” in my mind and trying to make it fit “Same Old Lang Syne.”
Would’ve driven me nuts if you hadn’t said it was 1812, lol - but now it’s just driving me nuts, period, as my puter is without sound!