Composed for orchestra, March of the Two Left Feet was completed on September 18, 1969. It is 2 minutes and 15 seconds long. It was first performed on January 23, 1971 by the New Haven (Connecticut) Symphony Orchestra, with the composer conducting. It was first recorded on June 30, 1988, in digital stereo sound, with Newton Wayland conducting the Rochester Pops. March of the Two Left Feet was written after the catalog of works prepared by the composer in the mid 1960's. It was released posthumously.
Composer quotes: "I have two more pieces of a similar nature in mind for next season's Pops. One idea was my own and the other was Mr. Fiedler's. Generally the ideas are mine, but I usually discuss them with Mr. Fiedler and he has made many excellent suggestions. (I prefer not to mention the title of "March of the Two Left Feet" or others in preparation until they are actually completed and scheduled for performance.)" (from a 1947 letter)
"Many years ago Leroy Anderson read a story by P.G. Wodhouse called "The Man with Two Left Feet." The idea came to him at the time to write a "Clumsy" March for "two left feet", but the music wasn't finished until much later." (from the composer prepared program notes for the Hartford Symphony "Pops" concert of March 27, 1971)