[Dixielandjazz] Who wrote Tiger Rag?

[Mike]

Nice information. Thanks Steve. I guess it's one of those 
mysteries in jazz that we'll never the whole story about.

Mike


Steve Barbone wrote:
> Mike <mike at railroadstjazzwest.com> asked:
> 
> Here is what Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says about it: There is plenty
> of info on google about it.
> 
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> 
> 
> It was credited to O.D.J.B. members Nick La Rocca, Eddie Edwards, Henry
> Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields, along with Harry Da Costa.
> 
> However, other New Orleans, Louisiana musicians claimed that the tune had
> been a standard in the city even before. Some others even copyrighted the
> same melody or close variations on it under their own names, including Ray
> Lopez under the title "Weary Weasel" and Johnny DeDroit under the title
> "Number Two Blues". A number of veterans of Papa Jack Laine's band said the
> tune had been known in New Orleans as "Number Two" long before the O.D.J.B.
> copyrighted it. In one interview, Papa Jack Laine said that the actual
> composer of the number was Achille Baquet. Punch Miller claimed to have
> originated the cornet & trombone breaks with Jack Carey, and that from
> Carey's characteristic growl many locals called the tune "Play Jack Carey".
> Jelly Roll Morton also claimed to have written the tune, basing part of it
> on his jazzed up version of an old French quadrille.
> 
> While the exact details are unclear, it seems that at least something
> similar to Tiger Rag or various strains of it was played in New Orleans
> before the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded it. How close these were to
> the O.D.J.B.'s recording is a matter of speculation. The O.D.J.B.'s record
> seems to have helped solidify a standard a version or head arrangement of
> the number. Curiously, however, one strain in the O.D.J.B. recordings (just
> before the famous "hold that tiger" chorus) is almost invariably left out of
> later recordings and performances of the number.
> 
> 
> 
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