<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3>In a message dated 1/23/03 3:15:33 PM Central Standard Time, gwilliamoakley@earthlink.net writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">You are correct Jim. "Dixie" was written by Dan Emmett and introduced by him in Bryant's Minstrels on April 4, 1859. If memory serves it was performed in Pittsburgh. The minstrel show was a popular form of entertainment until the turn of the century but its heyday ended with the civil war.</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">And boy do I agree with the racial dross comment. I used it in all innocence as a finale for one of my shows at the Heritage Square Opera House in Denver. The Denver Post critic was there with her date who happened to be black. The song sent him into a tirade in the lobby after the show. She had penned a very critical review but the managing editor of the paper (who fortunately was a fan of the Opera House) put a hold on it until he could further investigate. A committee from the NAACP came out and saw the show and found nothing offensive about the number. She rewrote the review and it all ended happily. But the point is, the number was originally just a stirring piece of nostalgia which was how I was using it. All the baggage that people bring to the song is unfortunate.</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Regards,</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Bill</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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Thanks for the info and you experience with 'Dixie", Bill. I am curious about your show. What kind of show was this and how did you use 'Dixie" in the show?<BR>
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Jim Beebe</FONT></HTML>