Charles G. Dawes, Vice President under Calvin Coolidge, was a man of varied talents. He had a head for finance, evidenced by a successful banking career. But he also developed a musical gene whose impact was felt far beyond his lifespan.
Stacy Conradt encapsulated his eclectic career for Mental Floss.
The Early Years of Charles Gates Dawes
Born in 1865 in Marietta, Ohio, Dawes attended law school and was a gas plant executive. After successfully managing William McKinley into the presidency, he was appointed the Comptroller of the Currency.
But he also had an interest in music, evidenced by his membership in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, an Indiana fraternity—still in existence—dedicated to the advancement of music in America. He was a self-taught pianist and flutist.
In 1912, Dawes composed a piano and violin piece called “Melody in A Major,” which gained popularity. At the time, Dawes humorously noted the rarity of a banker becoming a renowned composer.
Charles Dawes: From Failed Senate Bid to Vice Presidency
Despite an unsuccessful Senate bid in 1901 and declaring himself done with politics, Dawes’s political career resumed when he was appointed the first Director of the Bureau of the Budget under President Warren G. Harding in 1921. In 1924, after Coolidge’s initial vice-presidential candidates declined the nomination, Dawes became his running mate. He was sworn in the following year.
By 1932, his public service tenure was over; Dawes returned to banking, where he earned a living until his 1951 passing at age 85.
How ‘It’s All in the Game’ Became a Posthumous Hit
Four months after his death, Dawes’ composition “Melody in A Major” was resurrected from obscurity. New York City songwriter Carl Sigman added lyrics to Dawes’ tune, renaming it “It’s All in the Game.”
Popular Covers of “It’s All in the Game”
Tommy Edwards’ first recording of the song reached #38 on the Billboard charts, and a re-recorded rock ‘n’ roll version hit No. 1 seven years later. The song has since been covered by artists like:
Dawes’ Unique Legacy: The Only VP with a Chart-Topping Hit
Dawes remains the only Vice President to have a song reach No. 1 on the charts; however, amid a varied and high-profile career, he never put much emphasis on his creative background.
Of his tune, Dawes once commented, “I know that I will be the target of my punster friends. They will say that if all the notes in my bank are as bad as my musical ones, they are not worth the paper they were written on.”
Further details on the musical, banking, and legislative side of Charles G. Dawes are at Mental Floss.
