A gracious "Thank You!" to Masato who has once more given us an invaluable link for a terrific site which provides us with a historical and invaluable resource of songs and the performing artist. Many of us would otherwise never have the opportunity to hear these marvelous recordingsm many of which have lapsed into obscurity. Hats off to Masato!
Question: Is the commonly known version of "Mama Don't 'Low" in the public domain since the original author is "unknown"? i.e., may we sing it at various venues without having to worry about them thar durn Music revenoors? Or must we carry our sawed off in case them thar donkey's p'toot yahoo revenoors try some funny business with us?
          Kaleea
   p.s.: Yes, I do know that composers have the right to royalties for their songs! I do, however, believe deep down in my soul, that songs/tunes which are many, many decades old, which have no known composer, obviously questionable origins, or the composer is long since deceased with no starving babies left behind etc., & such things should be allowed to be performed without penalty to the performers--as this is a great compliment to the composer. I also believe now & forevermore that there is no greater tribute to a composer such as Irving Berlin (who was a deeply patriotic immigrant) than the fact that all these decades later Americans from coast to coast (& Alaska & Hawaii!) want to & need to sing "God Bless America" for the great comfort & rallying qualities this song provides. I truly believe that if he were alive today, he would insist that any American should be allowed to sing &/or play this song without penalty. After all, is this not the greatest compliment possible to be given to a composer that his song is thus beloved & sung many, many years hence by most all of his fellow Americans?!!