101 # 1 Song of the Day 9-11-12

The 101 number one song of the day was written in response to a United States Supreme Court ruling from 1954.  18 years later it became a hit. 

The song was first recorded by Sammy Davis, Jr. in the late 50s and in 1971 a Jamaican Reggae group called “Greyhound” did a version of it.  The group that took it to number one heard the Greyhound single on a Dutch radio station while they were touring Europe.  They condensed the words somewhat and the verse, “Their robes were black/Their heads were white/The school house doors were closed so tight/Nine judges all set down their names/To end the years and years of shame.”  The high court decision which the song commemorates banned segregation in public schools and the song which was number one this week in 1972 belonged to Three Dog Night (Black and White)