[Dixielandjazz] Tiger Rag

[Stephen Barbone]

Hi List mates:

Came across the blurb below about Tiger Rag on pianist Bill Edwards' web
page. Does anyone have more information about the beginnings of Tiger
Rag?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Copyrighted by Nick LaRocca, Larry Shields and Henry Ragas - c. 1917:
Tiger Rag actually has a sort of nebulous genesis. The themes are culled
from a well known set of French Quadrilles, dance music in a structured
format to provide variety. Members of what became the Original Dixieland
Jazz Band melded the best of the themes together and threw in a tiger
roar at some point. It evolved into the Tiger Rag most are now familiar
with, although the original sheet music contains neither the roar or the
oft-sung "Hold that tiger" theme. It has often been reported, without
verification, that the tiger roar was derived by pianist "Jelly Roll"
Morton during a performance with the band.