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In 1952 Irving Berlin heard Don’s recording of “Maybe It’s Because” and invited Don to his office. He proceeded to tell Don that it was one of the best recordings he heard of his songs, and that it had prompted him to write a country song for Don. Unfortunately it wasn’t one of Mr. Berlin’s best songs, but the mere fact he had composed it strictly for Don overshadowed it’s flaws.
In 1953 Don won the Canadian Amateur which allowed him to compete in the 1953 Walker Cup. He won for the United States. He finished 1953 as a semi finalist in the Southern Amateur and was honored as a member of the United State’s team in the American Golf Cup. His music career was taking off as well. He recorded the hit “Vanity” for Decca Records which shot straight to the top of the charts.
In 1955 when Don played again for the Walker cup, Lord Brabazon, Captain of the Royal and Ancient Association, announced to the audience that “Bing Crosby and Bob Hope tried to make it to the British Amateur Golf Tournament but couldn’t qualify. We Finally found a golfer who could play golf and also sing. Mr. Cherry would you please honor us with a song”. So on the steps of St. Andrew, Don sang “I Believe” and was rewarded with an ovation which he will never forget. The next day the English papers published the following article:
They don’t think much of crooners in St. Andrews, even Bing’s swing leaves them cold. But when cheery nightclub singer Don Cherry stood on the gray steps of the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and cooed into the mike only the bronze face of Old Tom Morris frowned from its plaque. Here is a man to respect. A man who helped give Britain’s best Amateur golfers their biggest home defeat in the Walker Cup by ten matches to two. In this hit parade, cheerful Cherry sang “I Believe”. He couldn’t have picked a better song, for in those two words is the secret of America’s golf supremacy. Americans BELIEVE they are the best. Americans BELIEVE they can play their best when the pressure is on, and do so. Here is just an example of their belief during their two day battle: Ward and Cherry played two in the same bunker and didn’t lose the hole. Cherry played an explosive shot out of a pot bunker and got a three, and the hole against Carr.
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