Remembering the Music

Re “Perry Como, Soothing Pop Crooner, Dies at 87,” obituary, May 13, and “J. Myers; Co-Wrote ‘Rock Around the Clock,”’ obituary, May 12: “Rock Around the Clock” was the first 45 rpm record I ever bought. I fondly recall how my mother could not understand why I kept playing it. She had less trouble accepting Perry Como’s “Hot Diggity” or “Papa Loves Mambo,” which soon followed, but she did voice concern about my future when I devoted a great deal of time to memorizing all the verses of “Catch a Falling Star.”

To remember all that personal history and my mother’s reaction as well on Mother’s Day was a bit intense--until I started humming each of the tunes, happy for my ability to recall the words (as well as the people) and the cheery melodies.

Ruth Kramer Ziony

Los Angeles