39 Comments

This type of history has -- sadly -- been repeated and/or seen by many fine creative and performing artists in different media. Thanks for sharing the Dabney story.

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It's great that his records are commercially available again.

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A beautiful tribute and an elevation of a musician. The world is made richer by such things.

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So good that you included these recordings. Thank you. I bought How to Listen to Jazz a few years ago, then the Hstory and also the Standards. It was a great thrill to find you writing here, in the moment, and so well. (And on so many other matters, too.)

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Incredible song, Shine. Here’s where I heard it first:

https://youtu.be/WdXPrhKdRKk

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You got there ahead of me…. With “Shine” and “Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now” and a bunch of others , Ry Cooder’s 1978 album “Jazz” opened up a whole new world for me.

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I was also going to point at that Ry Cooder covered Shine. He wasn’t the only one. I was fairly familiar with it by the time I heard Cooder’s version.

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Like to see Ted weigh in…

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The version sung by Ry Cooder is not with the lyrics of Ford Dabney's original version, which are quite innocent. The racially-tinged lyrics were added in 1924 by Cecil Mack and Lew Brown (né, Louis Brownstein).

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You're right. They completely removed the opening verse where the racism encountered by the composer is left out

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in 1919, he also recorded with Billy Murray (white) , one of the most popular singers of the day.

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On a personal level I'm not sure it matters whether or not a person is remembered in the history books. Once you're dead you're dead and what does "being remembered" actually get you? Artists need the benefit of recognition within their own lifetimes. It seems that Ford Dabney lived and created music exactly how he wanted. I don't think he missed his chance to be the first jazz star . I think he CHOSE not to move into jazz. It clearly wasn't his preferred music. He lived and played the way he wanted and lived a comfortable and quiet life. All power to him.

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I love Jazz history but I was completely unaware of Ford Dabney. Thank you for sharing.

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Very interesting. I'd never heard of him, despite the fact that I've been listening to jazz and blues for years. Thanks for sharing this fascinating information

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Oh Cmon, people

No one person "invented" jazz. The standard wisdom says it started in New Orleans, then moved up th e MIssissippi to Chicago. Then, I dunno, possibly by train to NYC and Philly. But, seriously, there were probably dozens who never recorded but were around with Buddy Bolden, et. al.

It takes a village.

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Found the Haytian Rag score on Musescore and whanged it out on my ancient Sohmer baby grand. It was fun and cheered me up. Thanks for alerting us to Dabney's work.

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It’s incredible reading about artists of this caliber who decide they don’t want fame or acclaim. I think it says a lot about their character.

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Ted Great piece. Also great that commenters must sign their comments. Should be required for every comment board. Lot more civility

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More great musicological research, and life lessons for today’s creators. Thank you!

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Informative

Thank you!

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Thanks for this Ted. Really made me go down the Ford Dabney rabbit hole. The only recordings I could find though, were on Youtube.

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