Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-08-13
I FRIDAY, AUG. Is,
.GOLOIE,D song WRITER


1t has been well said that emusic
the Ear, and Appealcth 70 the
Heart" It is the Harp String Of God"
Music is one Of the greatest arts in I'D
vanced civilization. \ few years ago
the Negro race had but very few song
writers but now some OF the most p0F'-
lar songs in the trst-class theaters and
gardens Of New York, Chicago, Philade-
phia are written by cololed composers.
Below the Bystander gives you clipping
taken from the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
The Globe Democrat had clipped the two
column wrlte-up from the Boston Tran
script, by John Edward Bruce. Paste
this in your scrap book.
The brass bands aud piano organs in
nearly all Of our large cities are rcga'lng
the public with popular and catchy airs,
some OF which are the productions OF
negroes, who are winning distinction as
clever-song writers.
Many of the most popular songs no"
sung on the vaudeville stage and in con-
cert halls have been written by black men.
There are few who have head the song
"Listen to the Mocking Bird" who know
that its roal author was Il cOlored man,
vet such is the fact. In a letter recently
received from Prof. John w. Cromwell, a
leading educator in the District of Column
bia, lie says: Dear Sir-The author OF
the tune Listen to the Mocking Bird" ]
was credibly informed some years ago in
Philadelphia, in the presence Of Mr.. W.
II. Dorsey, was George Milburn, Il street
minstrel. Sep Winner made the arrange
nlent Of this music, and published it with
his name as author on the title page.
Milburn for his pay received twenty
copies of the first publication. Mr.. Geo.
W. Briggs think his name is-of Cam
den, N. j., who gave this information,
knew Milburn. and had at the time one OF
the original copies. am quite sure tina,
l heard Milburn sing this song at con.
cert in Franklin hall, Sixth street, above
above Market, one or two years before the
war. Although not more than II or IL
years old at the time, and in company
with sister. was very much impress
ell with the solo and chorus Listen 10 he
Mocking Bird" with the vocal limitations
oi different birds. When in conI ersation
with Messrs. Dorsey and Briggs spoke
Of this concert, they assured me thst it
was Miburn himself whom had then
heard
Mr.. Charles W. Anderson, one of the
commissioners appointed by Governor
Morton to the Nashville, Tenn, EXPOSE
zion, has gathered in four immense vol
umes all OF the music thus far written and
published by negroes in this country, and
has placed it on exhibition in The New
York booth In the Negro building at
Nashville, where daily recitals from it are
given by Mr.. L. e. Brown, young ne-
gro pianist. These concerts are quite
feature at the Negro building, and attract
many visitors to the New York booth,
who are charmed as much b,
the skilltul play wing of MIR. Brown as by
the sweetness md melody Of the music Of
these composers OF his race. When
visited the exposition in my capacity as a
commissioner from New York state, had
oppol tunity to hear a great deal Of this
nllsic performed on the piano, and much
of it that heard, had never thought
that it had been written by negroes.
The Tennessee Centennisl March, rby
William j. Accoe, is a most ambitious
and creditable effort and has won for its
author the applause Of many thousands of
Tennesseeans who heard it performed by
the military band on the exposition
grounds few weeks ago, and who had
no idea that negro was its author. One
OF the most beautiful sentimental songs in
this valued collection Of negro music is
written by William NJ. Cook, Of Wash
ington, ID. c.. who is an educated musi.
Clan and teacher of music.
1.-THE Fatal Wedding" by Gussie l..
Davis and The Baggage Coach Ahead"
by the same author, are tavorites with the
crowds who daily assemble to hear these
selections in front Of the New York booth,
at Nashville.
Gussie L. Davis has written more songs,
perhaps, than any other young man in
this country. He is the young negro song
writer who won the second prize recently
by the New York "World" for the bes,
song written by an American song writer.
lie was really entitled to first prize, but
the judges took into account the fact that
he is negro, and gave him second prize.
| took a list Of some OF these songs and
the names OF their authors, which ap-
pend herewith:
Tennessee Centennial March. Nv J. Accoe
Love is the Tenderest of Themes
.................... viii NJ Cook
The Fatal Wedding. go. .Gusssie L Davis
Baggage Coach Ahead. .Gusse L Davis
When the Old Church Clock Struck Ten
Gussie L Davis
Send Back the Picture and the Ring
Glssie l. Davis
Trusting Only You ...... Gussie L Davis
Sing Again that Sweet Refrain
GuSsie L Davis