“Blue Skies” A Reason To Smile Dan Rather and Team Steady Jan 26 Credit: Getty Images When we started Steady four years ago this week, on the heels of the January 6 insurrection and attack on the U.S. Capitol, it was to help us all make sense of the chaos and distinguish what was a threat from what was noise. But we didn’t want it all to be dire news and analysis. So we introduced A Reason to Smile. This week’s reason is one of my all-time favorites and a favorite of the song’s composer, Irving Berlin. It is hard to do anything but smile when listening to the song “Blue Skies.” Berlin originally wrote it for the unsuccessful Broadway musical “Betsy,” which ran for a mere 39 shows. But its short run didn’t hurt the song’s popularity. The following year it was repurposed for the first talking movie, “The Jazz Singer.” And then a who’s who of American singers and musicians recorded the song, including Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald. Take a listen to Ella’s version, which offers a master class in vocal improvisation. Even some country crooners got in on it. Willie Nelson’s rendition appeared on his sterling album of standards, “Stardust.” He and Kenny Rogers, on the upright bass, sang it as a duet during a tribute to Dolly Parton. Besides loving the song and needing a serious infusion of positivity, I chose “Blue Skies” this week because of Berlin. He was an immigrant. He and his family came to the United States in 1893 to escape the Russian pogroms. And he was an invaluable addition to the great American melting pot. In celebration of Berlin’s 100th birthday, my former colleague Walter Cronkite said of the composer: He “helped write the story of this country, capturing the best of who we are and the dreams that shape our lives.” Speaking of blue skies — I mentioned last week that I had joined the social media platform Bluesky. If you are so inclined, feel free to follow me there. If you are able to, please support my team, who make pieces like this possible. No matter how you subscribe, I thank you for reading and listening. Stay Steady, Dan