I Love You Truly/A Perfect Day

by Casey Parker, president of the San Francisco Bay Cities Quartet Chapter Carrie Jacobs was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1862 and experienced a number of misfortunes in her early life. Her father died when she was twelve.

Her husband, Dr. Frank Bond, died prematurely. A serious fall in 1895 left her an invalid with a young son. After a career attempt as an artist, she turned to songwriting to survive. Popular music publishers turned down her "art" songs, but she had early success with children's songs. To succeed as a songwriter she started her own publishing business, in a bedroom, financed by a song recital. Her first book, "Seven Songs," contained "I Love You Truly," a standard at weddings for many years, which survives today as a Valentine's Day ballad. Her most popular song was a huge hit in 1909, "A Perfect Day," selling five million copies. Carrie Jacobs-Bond received many awards and is recognized as an outstanding American woman composer. She retired to Hollywood and was interred at Fairlawn Court of Honor in1946, following notables like the sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.

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