Ruth Sibley Bensinger

Ruth Sibley Bensinger wrote a song called “So Long Sweetheart” when she was a teenager.  The song was about lovers split by war.  Members of her musically inclined family thought the song was quite promising.  Ruth decided to walk the song over to Fred Waring’s home, whom she had met once through her bandleader father.  Mr. Waring, the king of choral music and leader of the Pennsylvania Vocal Group, liked the song and later had his group perform it several times.  The song led to several jobs for Ruth over the years with Mr. Waring, including one with his music publishing company, Shawnee Press.