Photo Credit: The Voice
Josh Kaufman, an Indiana native and winner of the sixth season of “The Voice”, will be singing (Back Home Again In) Indiana along with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir to start off the pre-race ceremonies for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.
“The singing of ‘(Back Home Again in) Indiana’ is a signature of the Indianapolis 500 and one that our fans cherish as a distinctly ‘Hoosier’ moment,” said J. Douglas Boles, IMS president. “Since Jim Nabors’ final performance in 2014, our goal is to select performers who have an understanding of the song’s meaning and significant importance to the Indianapolis 500 experience and the race’s fans. Josh Kaufman’s impressive voice and local ties, along with support from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, will deliver just that.”
(Back Home Again In) Indiana was originally just called Indiana and was written in 1917 by lyricist Ballard MacDonald and composer James Hanley. The song incorporated many lyrics as well as musical themes from the 1897 On the Banks of the Wabash which is the state’s official theme song.
IMS historian Donald Davidson says the song has been heard at the race since 1919 when it was played by a trackside brass band and was first sung in 1946 about an hour before the green flag by New York Metropolitan Opera performer James Melton. In 1949 it was moved closer to the start of the race remains today. Jim Nabors retired after the 2014 Indianapolis 500, where he had sung the song live 35 times starting in 1972. Straight No Chaser, an Indiana based accapella group, performed the song prior to the 2015 race.
