J. Rosamond Johnson, Ampico Ragtime Artist
By Rob DeLand
Frank Himpsl's comments in MMD 980912 (Ragtime on Ampico Rolls) are
right on the money. I have just one addition, regarding his comment
on Black Ampico artist. I'm sure Frank already knows this and just
forgot it off the top of his head (he knows ten time what I know about
music rolls). For the benefit of everyone else, J. Rosamond Johnson
was another Black Ampico artist. He too made just one Ampico roll:
#69496 Negro Spirituals (Deep River / Lit'le David Play On You' Harp)
This is an excellent roll. Deep River is a beautiful, ballad-style
song; Lit'le David is lively and upbeat. Both tunes appeared in
J. Rosamond Johnson's book of Negro spirituals, which is available in
reprint form these days. This roll is similar in style and content
(and quality) to Eubie Blake's Duo-Art roll of Negro spirituals. I
recut both rolls a few years ago. The Blake roll is in stock, but I
don't carry the JRJ roll at this time.
I know of no other Black Ampico artists.
-Rob
PS: can you tell I'm catching up on reading my MMD's this morning? My
wife wants me to help her clean the house instead! Talk to you later...
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(Message sent Sat 19 Sep 1998, 11:43:39 GMT, from time zone GMT.) |
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