The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24017   Message #2663171
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
23-Jun-09 - 08:09 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Colored Aristocracy
Subject: RE: Colored Aristocracy?
The title "Colored Aristocracy" goes back to a book of that title on the black elite of St. Louis, Missouri, pub. in the 1850s.
Clamorgan and Winch, 1850s, "The Colored Aristocracy of St. Louis," reprint by University of Missouri Press.
(Copies available at Abebooks).

Cakewalks started formally in the 1870s: 145 tunes listed here- Cakewalk
Cakewalks were meant to be danced. Good essay by Ted Tjaden.

In 1899, "Colored Aristocracy" became the title of a cakewalk number. Sheet music, Gus. W. Bernard, pub. Baldwin. Sheet music at Univ. South Carolina- South Carolina sheet music

1936- Title of a number by the Rich family. String band tune, Sankofa Strings. track 2 of their cd, and title of the album, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. No words, just fiddlin'.
Clip at Carolina Chocolate Drops