Original 'Happy Birthday' sheet music discovered by UofL librarian

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A librarian from the University of Louisville (UofL) discovered the original sheet music to the musical number that inspired the most sung song in the world, "Happy Birthday to You."

The university's library director, James Procell, found the manuscript in the library's archives at the Dwight Anderson Memorial Music Library. According to the article published by the UofL, Procell found the manuscript inside a sketchbook that was donated in the 1950s by a Hattie Bishop Speed, who knew the original composers.

The sheet music titled "Good Morning to All" was penned by Mildred Hill and her sister Patty who were both natives of Louisville. Before the beloved melody came to be known as "Happy Birthday," the piece was originally included in the sisters' publication called "Song Stories for the Kindergarten" in the 1890s. The sheet music was found alongside several musical compositions and papers that were uncatalogued.

According to the report by wfmynews2.com, the tune and melody of the discovered sheet music slightly differs from the famous birthday tribute song we know today.

"The question is, is this the original version of the song, or was Ms. Hill somehow unhappy with the published version and this represents a revision of the song?," Procell said.

He added that the mystery behind the composition is compounded by the fact that the first page of the document is missing.

Procell plans to properly catalog and digitize the compositions and works left behind by Hill. He will also be organizing a concert of Hill's music in collaboration of the School of Music faculty to commemmorate the centennial anniversary of her death in 2016.

According to the report by Reuters, the discovery will likely put the spotlight on a lawsuit filed against Warner Music Group who claims to have the copyright for the song.

The company has been sued in 2013 by a group of artists, three filmmakers and a musician who claimed that the song has been royalty-free for many years, according to their representative, Mark Rifkin. The suit is being considered by US District Judge George King, according to the Morning Ticker. Additionally, the group claims they possess an old song book that disputes the copyright of the song as they seek to have the collected fees to be returned to them.

The music giant allegedly collects an average of $2 million dollars in royalties annually for the use of the song in media. Warner obtained the copyright to the song in 1935 through Clayton F. Summy Co, now known as Birch Tree.