Post 431: 'CHICKEN YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND THE MOON'

In case you haven't already watched it, let me point you to a video that will warm your heart and make you smile. The song is Chicken You Can Hide Behind The Moon. It comes complete with chickens!

To watch this video by The Hokum High Rollers (in this case just Hannah and Jason)

CLICK HERE.

The song could have been circulating even before 1900, but it acquired its established form in the hands of Frank Stokes, a great guitarist who was born in Tennessee in 1888. Words were probably added by his colleague Dan Sane. They worked together in the 1920s as The Beale Street Sheiks. Stokes is said to have founded the Memphis Blues Guitar Style. You can find him easily on YouTube.

'Is this strictly relevant to traditional jazz?' you ask. Of course it is. There was so much overlap between the music of the folk-singers, the jug bands and the jazz bands of the early days.

Also, not only is it a fun number. It has a melody and chord structure (basically a three-chord trick) that are easy to pick up. Any trad band could enjoy playing it, with or without the lyrics. You could even write your own new lyrics for it.

What better way to end this post than with another lovely picture of Hannah?

Post 89: FRANK STOKES

FRANK STOKES (1888 - 1955) from Tennessee started out as a part-time blacksmith, part-time Memphis busker. He was a fine guitarist, one of the founders of the Memphis style.

Frank Stokes

He formed a musical partnership with guitarist Dan Sane and they did much busking and gigging around Memphis, just like several of the young groups in New Orleans today. They were also in various little bands - mainly The Beale Street Sheiks. Between 1927 and 1929, they were recorded by both Paramount and Victor.

Stokes left a legacy of almost 40 recorded songs. Some of them were probably composed by himself, in collaboration with Dan Sane. They included 'Taint Nobody's Business If I Do, Mr. Crump Don't Like It, What's The Matter Blues, How Long, Mistreatin' Blues and Chicken You Can Roost Behind The Moon. This last number has been delightfully revived by The Hokum High Rollers:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW.
Plenty of recordings by Frank Stokes and The Beale Street Sheiks are available on YouTube. For example, you can hear Stokes and Sane performing How Long
by clicking here.