Tiger Rag
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Tiger Rag is a popular tune, originally recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917.
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[edit] Origins
The tune was first recorded on 17 August, 1917 by the Original Dixieland Jass Band for Aeolian-Vocalion Records. The Aeolian Vocalion sides did not sell well, as they were recorded in a vertical format becoming obsolete at the time which could not be played successfully on most contemporary phonographs. Their second recording of the tune on 25 March, 1918 for Victor Records, on the other hand, was a smash national hit.
It was credited to O.D.J.B. members Nick La Rocca, Eddie Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields, along with Harry Da Costa.
However, other New Orleans, Louisiana musicians claimed that the tune had been a standard in the city even before. Some others even copyrighted the same melody or close variations on it under their own names, including Ray Lopez under the title "Weary Weasel" and Johnny DeDroit under the title "Number Two Blues". A number of veterans of Papa Jack Laine's band said the tune had been known in New Orleans as "Number Two" long before the O.D.J.B. copyrighted it. In one interview, Papa Jack Laine said that the actual composer of the number was Achille Baquet. Punch Miller claimed to have originated the cornet & trombone breaks with Jack Carey, and that from Carey's characteristic growl many locals called the tune "Play Jack Carey". Jelly Roll Morton also claimed to have written the tune, basing part of it on his jazzed up version of an old French quadrille.
While the exact details are unclear, it seems that at least something similar to Tiger Rag or various strains of it was played in New Orleans before the Original Dixieland Jass Band recorded it. How close these were to the O.D.J.B.'s recording is a matter of speculation. The O.D.J.B.'s record seems to have helped solidify a standard a version or head arrangement of the number. Curiously, however, one strain in the O.D.J.B. recordings (just before the famous "hold that tiger" chorus) is almost invariably left out of later recordings and performances of the number.
[edit] Continuing use
After Original Dixieland Jass Band records, the tune gained national popularity. Dance band and march orchestrations were published for the benefit of bands that couldn't get the hang of the new "jazz" music.
Hundreds of recordings of the tune appeared in the late 1910s and through the 1920s. Among the more notable is the New Orleans Rhythm Kings version with a clarinet solo by Leon Roppolo.
The ubiquitous tune even echoed around the ruins of Chichen Itza in the 1920s, as archaeologist Sylvanus Morley played it over and over on his wind up phonograph.
With the coming of sound film, it often appeared on soundtracks of both live action movies and animated cartoons when something very energetic was wanted.
[edit] Famous later recordings
Studies in Swing No.1, 1927, with Nat Gonella on solo trumpet.
The Mills Brothers became a national sensation with their hit vocal recording of "Tiger Rag" in 1931.
That same year the Washboard Rhythm Kings's record of the tune has been listed as anticipatory of rock & roll.
Art Tatum made his formidable presence known throughout the jazz community with his 1932 recording of "Tiger Rag". This recording continues to inspire and terrify pianists around the world.
During the early 1930s "Tiger Rag" begame a standard showoff piece for Big Band arrangers and soloists, especially in England, where Ambrose, Jack Hylton, Lew Stone, Billy Cotton, Jack Payne, and Ray Noble all made recordings of it. The tune fell from popularity during the Swing era, as it had become something of a cliché.
Roy Smeck made several recordings of the Tiger Rag on a ukulele over his career.
It was a hit for Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1952.
The song was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2002 [1].
Tiger Rag was recently used in a famous ad - the "Banned Xbox 360 Ad: Best Ad Ever!", advertising Xbox 360 console from Microsoft.
[edit] A popular fight song
Many sports teams across America have a tiger as their mascot, and most of them use a version of Tiger Rag as their fight song.
Tiger Rag is a fight song of LSU. The Golden Band from Tigerland no longer plays the first verse of the song at LSU sporting events because the student body turned part of the cheer into a profane heckling aimed at the visiting team.
It has often been played by Dixieland bands at Detroit Tigers home games, and was particularly popular during the Tigers' runs to the 1934 and 1935 World Series.
Tiger Rag – "The Song That Shakes the Southland" – is Clemson University's familiar fight song and is performed at all Tiger sporting events, pep rallies and parades.
Tiger Rag is a secondary fight Song for the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The Massillon Tiger Swing Band of Massillon, Ohio began playing Tiger Rag at Massillon Washington High School Tigers football games in 1938 during the period the Tigers were coached by the legendary Paul Brown. It has been a Tiger tradition ever since. [2]
The Cuyahoga Falls Marching Tiger Band of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio also plays Tiger Rag as one of their main fight songs. [3]
