[Dixielandjazz] Creole Love Call

[Stephen G Barbone]

Did Ellington write Creole Love Call? Apparently not.

He recorded it in 1927 gaining a copyright it in  1928. But here's the  
rest of the story:

King Oliver sued him shortly after Ellington recorded it since the  
melody was virtually the same as King Oliver's "Camp Meeting Blues",  
which Oliver recorded in 1923. Oliver demanded composer credit plus  
royalties.
But the lawsuit failed because of shoddy paperwork resulting in an  
invalid copyright on Oliver's part..

One of Ellington's reed players, Rudi Jackson, had given Ellington the  
melody and said he had written it. And, as common practice dictated  
back then, Ellington arranged it and took composer credit.

Naturally Ellington was pissed at Jackson and fired him. The  
replacement reedman? Barney Bigard.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband