The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
THE MINSTREL
WHO WROTE DIXIE
How Emmett Came to Com
pose Famous Song
WILL HAVE MONUMEN |
People of Memphis VIII Perpetuate
Memory of One of the Most Noted
Black Face Comedians in
the Country.

Everybody knows ''Dixie." Its delight
full music is as inspiring to every true
born American as yankee Doodle" or
1.-THE Star spangied Banner" And yet
very lew whose hearts have danced to
its strains have known much, If anything.
concerning its author. Now that the city
of Memphis has inaugurated a movement
to erect a monument to Daniel Decatur
Emmett the world at large will continue
to hear for some time about that inter-
esting personality, who is not only nota-
BILE as the originator of Dixie but also
as one of the pioneer Big Four black
face comedians who invented modern
American minstrelsy. It is fitting that
Memphis should raise statue to his
memory even as Allegheny, Penn. has
honored that of Stephen Collins Foster.
Emmetts Dixie" is certainly worthy to
rank with Fosters "Old Folks at Home
and other classic plantation melodies.
''Uncle Dan" Emmett, for that used to
be the genial old minstrers favorite term
of address, once told himself the story of
how he came to write his now celebrated
song The account was published by the
Buffalo Courier for May Q, 1896, yell
lowed clipping from which lies before US.
Declared Uncle DAM"
'Tn the spring of 1859 was engaged at
472 Broadway, New York City. with the
Bryant's minstrels. My particular task
was to compose comic negro and planta-
ton songs. I was also basso In the quar-
tet. One Saturday night after the per-
Torrance Mr.. Bryant overlook me on my
way nome and requested me to compose a
new plantation walk around one with a
lively tune and catchy chorus, that the
boys could learn quickly and sing through
the streets. SO as to make II popular.
Next day being Sunday. and a very rainy
one at that. was compelled to remain in
doors, when I composed Dixie as it is
now sung verbatim throughout both sec
tions of this Union. 1t was composed and
sung north at least IS months before 1t
was even sung in the South, where the
Confederates adopted 1t as their national
song.
Il. being a northern man, a good Union
ist and the proved author of both words
and music OF the song. was the only
man allowed to sing 1t In any theatre
or other place of amusement north of
Mason and Dixon's line It is now sung
universally North, accompanied with as
loud a yell as was ever heard in the
South. l neglected to issue 1t until 1t was
claimed as common property by every
body. After I had published 1t had to
prove authorship to keep from being
sued for infringement on other peoples
rights"
The South did have sort of claim
upon Emmstt's song, nevertheless, for he
was born of southern parentage, even
though his birth did take place outside
OF Dixie" His father was virginian
and his mother a Marylander. He him
self was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox
county, Ohio. October 20, 1916 It was up
on farm in that Ohio township that he
lived for ten years after his career in
negro minstrelsy. Al @. Fields found him
living there in utter obscurity when in
his eigbty-frst year and took him tour
ing with his burnt-cork band. AS Ed
ward Leroy Rice, author of ''Monarchs
of Minstrelsy," has Remarked.