[Dixielandjazz] Calloway and the birth of Wikipedia legends.

[David Richoux]

Robert & all,

I did not write that the Wiki article was verified in any way.  
Everybody should know by now that Wikipedia is only as about as  
accurate as rumors ( unless there are sufficient links, verified  
notes and indications of research.) "Wiki-Facts" are always subject  
to review...

BTW, I just skimmed through "Minnie the Moocher and Me" and did not  
see any mention of "Birth of the Blues," but I did not do a full  
search (and there is no index.)

Dave RIchoux

On Sep 15, 2008, at 1:27 PM, ROBERT R. CALDER wrote:

> I suppose the posting about Cab Calloway and "Birth of the Blues"  
> is of OKOM relevance in demonstrating what can happen.  The notion  
> that Calloway made an early recording of the number presumably  
> derives from the isolated reference to Calloway in Wikipedia's  
> entry on the song as having recorded it. Maybe the anonymous  
> amateur had a memory of hearing Calloway sing it, but all the Wiki  
> entry says is that Calloway sang it, not that he was an early  
> performer of the song on record.
> He seems not to have recorded it deliberately until 1958!  The only  
> earlier recordings were of 1944 broadcasts, where Cab had  
> presumably had some reason for bringing the number into his concert  
> repertoire.  It's all too easy to confuse a situation where an  
> amateur writer of a Wiki entry has lacked reference sources and --  
> meaning well -- relied on dodgy hearsay, with the supposition that  
> somebody actually well-informed had been a bit too short with real  
> info.
> Next thing, somebody will be remarking on how Danny Kaye recorded  
> with Louis Armstrong or was the spitting image of a trumpeter  
> called Fred Nichols. Or all three ....  Three?   Whoops!
>
>
>
>
>
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