Swing Along – The Songs Of Will Marion Cook
William Brown (tenor), Ann Sears (piano)
Will Marion Cook was one of the earliest African-American composers to achieve significant commercial success in musical theater. However, even though his talents were admired at the turn of the twentieth century, he and his work have since been largely forgotten. With the interest in African-American culture sparked by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and revived interest in all American music during the Bicentennial celebrations of the 1970s, Cook has been rediscovered by such music historians as Thomas L. Riis and Marva Griffin Carter, as well as by such performers as the Black Music Repertory Ensemble of the Center for Black Music Research and, of course, tenor William Brown, who had previously recorded some of Cook's songs on the album Fi-yer! (TROY329). Having studied with Joseph Joachim in Berlin and Antonin Dvorak in New York City, Cook was respected for his pioneering achievements in popular songwriting, Black musical comedies and syncopated orchestral music. His career as a songwriter spanned some 40 years from 1893 to 1934. Cook's memoirs reveal that he believed his ultimate challenge was to right social injustice while at the same time creating beautiful music. Renowned tenor William Brown's repertoire encompassed practically all musical genres. He was a particularly avid performer of American music from all ages and had appeared with major orchestras and ensembles all over the world. Sadly, Mr. Brown died shortly after this recording was made. This CD is a tribute to the memories of both Cook and Brown.
Track Listing
Title | Composer | Performer |
---|---|---|
Pensacola Mooch | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Love is The Tend'rest of Themes | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Jump Back | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
My Lady's Lips | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Wid De Moon, Moon, Moon | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Bon Bon Buddy | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Returned | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Down in Lover's Lane | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Red Red Rose | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Swing Along | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
An Exhortation | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Rain Song | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Troubled in Mind | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
An Explanation | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Little Gypsy Maid | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
My Lady | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Springtime | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Who Dat Say Chicken in Dis Crowd | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Dreamin' Town | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
There's A Place in the Old Vacant Chair | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Darktown Barbecue | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Slumber Song | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Little Bit of Heaven | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Mammy | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
As The Sunflower Turns To the Sun | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
On Emancipation Day | Will Marion Cook | William Brown, tenor, Ann Sears, piano |
Reviews
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"There's a reason this music was so popular in its day, and the CD is a pleasure from beginning to end."
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