The Little Drummer Boy (originally called Carol of the Drum) was composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941 based on a traditional Czech Christmas carol. It was first recorded by the Trapp Family Singers in 1951 and became popular in the version recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958, which retitled it The Little Drummer Boy. The song tells the story of a poor boy who has no gift to bring to the newborn king, Jesus, except for a song pl ... See more [+] ayed on his drum.