Leon René
Leon René (February 6, 1902 – May 30, 1982) was an American music composer of pop, R&B and rock and roll songs and a record producer in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.The song, written as a tribute to the annual springtime return of the cliff swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, spent several weeks at the top of Your Hit Parade charts during its initial release in 1940.The lyrics say: When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day you promised to come back to me When you whispered, "Farewell," in Capistrano 'twas the day the swallows flew out to sea The song has been recorded by such musicians as The Ink Spots, Fred Waring, Guy Lombardo, and Glenn Miller.[2] Artists on Exclusive Records included "Frantic" Fay Thomas,[3] the Buddy Baker Sextet, Joe Liggins and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers.[6] Patti Page covered the song in 1950 to little attention, but its B-side, "Tennessee Waltz", became a #1 hit in the United States and is one of her best-known works.