The Little Drummer Boy

Originally known as 'Carol of the Drum', this song was written by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. Davis drew inspiration from a French carol from the 1700s called "Patapan," and the distinctive "pa-rum-pum-pum" rhythm came to her while she was trying to nap. The song gained initial prominence when recorded by the Austrian Trapp Family Singers in 1951, but became a widespread hit in 1958 when the Harry Simeone Chorale released their recording retitled "The Little Drummer Boy," selling millions of copies.