The Route 66 Songs
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Route 66 has been the subject of numerous books, articles, websites and videos, but did you know there were two popular songs about Route 66?
Route 66 "Get Your Kicks" Song
The song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" was composed by songwriter Bobby Troup in 1946.
It was first recorded by Nat King Cole, and sung by other singers over the years including Chuck Berry, Perry Como, and the Rolling Stones. Here are the lyrics to the "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" song:
| If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. It winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. Now you go through Saint Looey Joplin, Missouri, and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty. You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona. Don't forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. Won't you get hip to this timely tip: when you make that California trip Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. |
The Route 66 TV Show Theme Song
 Tod (L) and Buz (R) (By CBS, or Screen Gems) |
A popular television show during the early 1960s bore the Mother Road's name: "Route 66" and starred Martin Milner as Tod and George Maharis as Buz.
Martin Milner's role was as Tod Stiles, a recent college graduate with no future prospects due to circumstances beyond his control.
He was originally joined on his travels by Buz Murdock (played by George Maharis), a friend and former employee of Tod's father. Buz exited the series near the end of the second season after contracting "echovirus". Maharis was in fact battling infectious hepatitus in real life.
The two young adventurers drove the road in their Chevrolet Corvette for 116 episodes which aired over four seasons, from October 7, 1960 to March 20, 1964. It was shown entirely in black and white, and ran on Friday nights on CBS Television.
The show generated a huge following over its four-year run. The interest in the show continues today by "Baby Boomers" who remember the original showings, and new generations of viewers fascinated by the show who watch it on DVD or streaming devices.
For the Route 66 TV series on CBS, the "Route 66 Theme" song was written by Nelson Riddle. The song reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 list and was nominated for two Grammy awards.
- Listen to the Route 66 TV show theme song on YouTube
- Read more about the Route 66 TV Show
The Route 66 TV Show Theme Song, by Nelson Riddle |
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