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Will Marion Cook

William Mercer Cook (January 27, 1869 – July 19, 1944), better known as Will Marion Cook, was an American composer, violinist, and choral director. Cook was a student of Antonín Dvořák. In 1919 he took his New York Syncopated Orchestra (Southern Syncopated Orchestra) to England for a command performance for King George V of the United Kingdom, and tour. Cook is probably best known for his popular songs and landmark Broadway musicals, featuring African-American creators, producers, and casts, such as Clorindy, or The Origin of the Cake Walk (1898) and In Dahomey (1903). The latter toured for four years, including in the United Kingdom and United States.

Cook served as musical director of the George Walker-Bert Williams Company, working with the comedy partners on Clorindy, In Dahomey, and several other musical successes.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 27, 1869 (Washington, D.C.), Died July 20, 1944 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1899 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, arranger, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 73 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 4296 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Who dat say chicken in dis crowd? Imperial Quartet Male vocal quartet composer  
Berliner 015 7-in. 4/15/1899 Darktown is out tonight Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 027 7-in. 3/29/1899 Darktown is out tonight Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Berliner 035 7-in. 4/3/1899 Darktown is out tonight Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0311 7-in. 7/7/1899 Who dat said chicken Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer  
Berliner 0911 7-in. 1/26/1900 Who dat say chicken in dis crowd? Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Berliner 01208 7-in. Apr. 1900 Who dat say chicken in dis crowd? (Medley) Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]137 7-in. 7/14/1900 Who dat say 'chicken'? Voss First Regiment Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]253 7-in. 9/29/1900 Darktown is out to-night Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]253 10-in. 10/4/1902 Darktown is out to-night Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]289 7-in. 9/28/1900 Who dat say chicken in dis crowd? Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]362 7-in. 10/3/1900 Who dat say chicken in dis crowd? Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1661 7-in. 10/8/1902 On Emancipation Day Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1661 10-in. 10/8/1902 On Emancipation Day Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1710 7-in. 10/25/1902 On Emancipation Day Vess L. Ossman ; Len Spencer Male vocal solo, with banjo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1710 10-in. 10/25/1902 On Emancipation Day Vess L. Ossman ; Len Spencer Male vocal solo, with banjo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1798 7-in. 11/20/1902 Molly Green J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1798 10-in. 11/20/1902 Molly Green J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-1583 10-in. 7/11/1904 Mandy Lou Billy Murray Male vocal solo composer  
Victor A-1583 7-in. 7/11/1904 Mandy Lou Billy Murray Male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-2522 10-in. 5/4/1905 It's allus de same in Dixie Haydn Quartet ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-2873 10-in. 11/8/1905 Mandy Lou Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6066 10-in. 3/31/1908 Bon-bon buddy Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8180 10-in. 8/26/1909 The red, red rose Albert Campbell ; Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-8258 12-in. 9/28/1909 Red, red rose Arthur C. Clough ; Haydn Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 73 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cook, Will Marion," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106040.

Cook, Will Marion. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106040.

"Cook, Will Marion." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106040

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