Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride was first conceived by composer Leroy Anderson during a heat wave in July 1946 and was completed in February 1948. Since its composition, it has become a standard of the light orchestral repertoire and is closely associated with the Christmas and holiday season.
Its first performance was by the Boston Pops Orchestra, with Arthur Fiedler conducting, on May 4, 1948. It has been recorded on numerous occasions by the Pops since then with both Arthur Fiedler and John Williams conducting.
Lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950, and this version has been covered by numerous artists, most notably the Ronettes in 1963 and Gwen Stefani in 2017.