Top Catholic Songs

"Lovely Lady Dressed In Blue" is a poem written by Mary Dixon Thayer. It frequently has been recited on radio by Bishop Pulton j. Sheen, Auxiliary of New York and national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

The Rev. Fred Nelson, 28, convert and assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Church here, whose hobby is picking out tunes on the piano, set the poem to music. Father Nelson said he had "written lots of songs but they've never amounted to much." He sent his music for the poem to the Antonian Publishers, Portland, Oreg. They made a record of the song by John Kontos, Bismarck, N.D., boy soprano, which met with limited success.

Father Nelson said he first heard the Ames Brothers recording of his hymn on the radio. He commented: "I think they do a beautiful Job of it. It is a reverent song and should be done with feeling. It's not the swingy type and I hope anyone who plays it remembers that."

The singing brothers sent Father Nelson a letter, complimenting him on the song, and a picture of themselves. Father Nelson said he hasn't heard anything about royalties from the record and added "I certainly can use any money the tune earns."

The Ames Brothers were bom and raised in Malden, Mass., a suburb of Boston, They have been singing as a quartet since their grammar school days and were prize-winners in many amateur contests in the Boston area. They have appeared in a number of television and radio shows and on the stage. Usually, they conclude their act with a serious number, sometimes a spiritual. Now, they often use the “Lovely Lady" number for their closing.