"How Do You Do" has been an opening, greeting song used by stage performers, gospel preachers and speakers for a long time; sheet music of the tune goes back to the Civil War period.

On radio during the 1930s, "The Happiness Boys," Billy Jones and Ernie Hare, used it to open their very popular broadcasts (a cd is available).

A version of "How Do You Do, Everybody, How Do You Do" was composed by Cal DeVoll (b. 1886) and used to open Shriner meets.

The song was used as an opening greeting shout at gospel meets, both Black and White. Harry Belafonte sang a spiritual version in his recording, "The Long Road to Freedom," Buddha Records (BMG).
As a spiritual, it was collected by Ballanta-Taylor, "St. Helena Island Spirituals," p. 75, as "How Yo' Do Believer, How yo' Do Today.
There are no records, but it is speculated that the song originated as a ring shout.

Lyr. Add: HOW DO YOU DO, EV'RYBODY
Greeting Shout

How do you do, ev'rybody, how do you do?
How do you do, ev'rybody, how do you do?
I don't come to worry your patience.
I just come to bring salvation.
How do you do, ev'rybody, how do you do?

How do you do' my dear brethren, how do you do?
How do you do, my dear brethren, how do you do?
I don't come to worry your patience.
I just come to bring salvation.
How do you do, ev'rybody, how do you do?

How do you do, my dear sistren, how do you do?
etc.

How do you do, my dear mother, how do you do?
etc.

How do you do, my dear father, how do you do?
etc.

How do you do, my good member, how do you do?
etc.

How do you do, everybody, how do you do?
etc.

Last chorus line repeated. Midi at website.

http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/Freedom/values.cfm
spirituals