Like so many famous songs of yore, “The Star-Spangled Banner” started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812. The stanzas recount the Battle of Baltimore, a days-long siege between British and American forces.

Kentucky basketball crowd sings national anthem acapella before Alabama game - YouTube

The poem was set to a tune called “The Anacreontic Song,” which was composed in the late 1700s by a man named John Stafford Smith. The song was linked to the Anacreontic Society, which was an amateur musician’s and singer’s club named after the Greek poet Anacreon.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t actually adopted as the official anthem of the United States until 1931, though it was already popular and had already been used by several American institutions by then.

 

Watch Richard Goodall’s acappella version below.

 

Richard Goodall to Perform National Anthem at Pacers Game in Indianapolis on November 17th

In exciting news, Richard Goodall has announced that he will be singing the National Anthem at the Pacers game in Indianapolis on November 17th. The performance is set to take place at 5:00 p.m., and Goodall expressed his excitement about this opportunity. “I’m so excited about these and many other opportunities,” he shared, adding, “Can’t wait to sing in Indy.” Fans can look forward to an unforgettable performance from Goodall as he continues to make waves in the music world.