By: Joe Strupp A campaign by The Kansas City (Mo.) Star to get the widely covered 1952 tune "Kansas City" named the city's official song is getting a standing ovation. Star columnist Mike Hendricks started it last fall after learning that for some reason, the Leiber and Stoller hit was not the town tune: Instead, a barbershop quartet favorite, "Kansas City, My Hometown," held the title.
"We had a lousy city song no one had heard of," Hendricks says, on why he penned columns urging a switch. In March, the Star's Sunday magazine twice published a coupon-size note for readers to send to Mayor Kay Barnes, asking her to change Kansas City's anthem. More than 450 readers have responded, and the paper will deliver them to Barnes in April. City officials say a change could come in time for the new song to be dedicated at the annual Oktoberfest. One idea already being circulated would gather residents to christen the new city song on kazoos.
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