Chicken Fat
Though the song sounded vaguely familiar, I couldn't have connected it to anything back in school -- and I am a child of the 60s & 70s. Perhaps it's a failure of memory, or maybe my school was just a bit out of step. * "Chicken Fat" (also known as "The Youth Fitness Song" ) is a 1962 song written by Broadway composer Meredith Willson ( The Music Man , The Unsinkable Molly Brown ) and performed by actor/singer Robert Preston . It was commissioned as part of the President's Council on Physical Fitness . History Used in school gymnasiums across the United States, "Chicken Fat" was the theme song for President John F. Kennedy's youth fitness program. [ 2 ] Willson contacted Fitness Council administrator Dick Snider with an offer to write a song to be used to promote exercise for children. Willson's offer was accepted and he consulted with Physical Fitness Council director Ted Forbes to ensure that the song would be effec...