Popcorn Popping

A few of our readers might be interested to know that the composer of the cheery "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" passed away this week:

The woman whose light-hearted song about springtime blossoms is known to millions of Latter-day Saints has died at her home in Salt Lake City. Georgia Wahlin Bello, 83, died Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, surrounded by her family after a three-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Mrs. Bello plucked out the melody and words for the LDS children's Primary song, "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," using her daughter's one-octave, toy piano in the late 1950s. Her daughter, Joanne Foster, said the song was composed several years after her brother Kenneth — then 3 years old — pointed out the window of their home in Magna and exclaimed, "Look Mom, popcorn popping on the apricot tree."

The song she composed became a favorite in "Primary" (Sunday School for Mormon children), though it isn't imbued with any overt religious message. In fact it is incorporated into this pre-school plan for teaching about plants.

Some folks have taken a few liberties with the song such as this young man:



Originally posted in UNCoRRELATED Nov 9, 2007