"Skokiaan" | |
---|---|
Single by The African Dance Band of the Cold Storage Commission of Southern Rhodesia | |
A-side | "Skokiaan" |
B-side | "In the Mood" |
Recorded | 1947 |
Genre | Tsaba-tsaba |
Label | GALLO-Gallotone Records (JIVE GB.1152) |
Songwriter(s) | August Musarurwa (typeset August Msarurgwa in records) |
"Skokiaan" is a popular tune originally written by Zimbabwean musician August Musarurwa in the "Tsaba-tsaba" big band-style that succeeded Marabi.[citation needed] "Skokiaan" ("Chikokiyana" in Shona)[1] is an illegal self-made alcoholic beverage.[2]
An early instrumental version was recorded in 1947. Within a year from its 1954 release in South Africa through Gallo Record Company, at least 19 cover versions of "Skokiaan" appeared. The version made in then-Southern Rhodesia reached No. 17 in the United States, while a cover version by Ralph Marterie climbed to No. 3. All versions combined propelled the tune to No. 2 on the Cash Box charts that year. Its popularity extended outside of music, with several urban areas in the United States taking its name.
Artists who produced their own interpretations include The Four Lads, Louis Armstrong, Bill Haley, Herb Alpert, Brave Combo, Hugh Masekela and Kermit Ruffins. The Wiggles also covered this song on their Furry Tales album. The music itself illustrates the mutual influences between Africa and the wider world.
History
[edit]Original recording in "(Southern) Rhodesia" (nowadays Zimbabwe)
[edit]"Skokiaan" was originally composed and first recorded as a sax and trumpet instrumental by the "African Dance Band of the Cold Storage Commission of Southern Rhodesia" (the police band of the country now called Zimbabwe) under the leadership of August Musarurwa possibly in 1947 (anthropologist David B. Coplan seems to be the sole source for this date).[3][4] The band comprised two saxophones, two banjos, traps, and a bass.[5] Several tunes played by the Cold Storage Band were recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey in June 1951.[6] On Tracey's recording, Musarurwa also apparently played for "the Chaminuka Band".[7] Musarurwa probably copyrighted Skokiaan in 1952.
Ethnomusicologist Thomas Turino describes Skokiaan as having "a four-bar I-IV-I-V progression in 4/4 meter... The main melodic strain (A) begins with a long held trill... played by the sax on the dominant pitch... followed by an undulating, descending melody. The A strain is contrasted with sections of riffing that follow the harmonic progression fairly closely... before the main melody returns". Towards the end of the original recording a short trumpet solo "is overlapped by Musarurwa's sax". The melody throughout "is carried by the sax".[8]
Skokiaan's significance is that it shows how Africa influenced American jazz in particular and popular music in general. Musarurwa's 1947 and 1954 recordings illustrate how unique the indigenous forms of jazz that emerged in Africa in response to global music trends. While African jazz was influenced from abroad, it also contributed to global trends.[9]
Skokiaan has been adapted to various musical genres, from jazz to mento/reggae (Sugar Belly & the Canefields), and rock and roll. The tune has also been arranged for strings (South Africa's Soweto String Quartet) and steel drums (Trinidad and Tobago's Southern All Stars).[10] A merengue version was recorded in the Dominican Republic by "Antonio Morel y su Orquestra" in the 1950s, with an alto saxophone arrangement by "Felix del Rosario".[11] A number of reggae versions of the song also exist, and marimba covers are particularly popular.
Skokiaan has been recorded many times, initially as part of a wave of world music that swept across the globe in the 1950s, spurred on in Africa by Hugh Tracey and in the United States by Alan Lomax, to name two. Skokiaan gained popularity outside Africa at the same time as another South African record did: "Mbube", a 1939 song by Solomon Linda also known as "Wimoweh", was later released in 1961 as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens. The sheet music was eventually released in 17 between European and African languages.[12] In France in 1955 the orchestra of Alix Combelle recorded a cover of Skokiaan on the Phillips label.[13][14] Jacques Hélian also recorded a version. Performers recorded Skokiaan in Finland (Kipparikvartetti), Germany (Bert Kaempfert), and Sweden (Lily Berglund), among others. In the United Kingdom, vocal versions were recorded by South African singers Eve Boswell and Alma Cogan.
Versions recorded in the United States
[edit]However, it was in the United States that Skokiaan peaked on the charts, where it was recorded by a variety of musicians, such as The Four Lads and Johnny Hodges. Hodges' version is notable not only because he recorded the tune with Erroll Garner but also for the reason that his band at the time included John Coltrane, in a minor role.[15]
In 1954 Gallotone Records released a version of Skokiaan by "August Musarurwa and the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm Band".[16] After 170,000 copies were sold in South Africa, the president of London Records E. R. Lewis, forwarded "a couple of copies" to London's offices in New York. Meanwhile, a pilot had brought the original version from South Africa to the U.S.A., and given it to Bill Randle of the radio station WERE 1300 AM in Cleveland. Although the copy was cracked, Randle was so impressed by what he heard that he asked Walt McQuire of London's New York office to send him a new copy. After Randle played the record four times, interest soared. London Records shipped 6,000 copies to New York from Great Britain, followed in September 1954 by a further 20,000.[17][18]
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm's original version took off and reached No. 17 on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart.[19] Whether London Records' was a new recording, or a re-release of the Cold Storage Band's old recording under a new name, is uncertain. The band's original name was changed, no doubt for easier Western consumption,[20] perhaps by the record company or by the band itself.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/09/Louis_Armstrong_Skokiaan.jpg/270px-Louis_Armstrong_Skokiaan.jpg)
In 1954 covers of "Skokiaan" appeared on United States charts alongside Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm Band's original. The hitmakers included Ralph Marterie, who reached No. 3 on the Cash Box chart.[21] Marterie's instrumental was featured on ABC Radio's The Martin Block Show as "the best new record of the week". It was the first time an instrumental had been selected for the show.[17] A claim that charted versions by Ray Anthony, who supposedly reached No. 18, by Perez Prado, supposedly reached No. 26, and by Louis Armstrong, a Dixieland version said to have reached No. 29, can so far not be verified.[17] On the Cash Box best-selling record charts, where all hit versions were combined, Skokiaan reached No. 2 on 16 October 1954.[22]
English lyrics were added in 1954 by American Tom Glazer for the Canadian group The Four Lads. Glazer is perhaps better known for his 1963 single On Top of Spaghetti. On 4 August 1954 the Four Lads recorded through Columbia Records the only vocal version of Skokiaan that reached the United States charts, peaking at No. 7 in the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart.[23] In line with the spirit of the period, Glazer's lyrics contain what Time arts columnist Richard Corliss describes as jovial "ethnographic condescension":[24] "Oh-far away in Africa / Happy, happy Africa / ...You sing a bingo bango bingo / In hokey pokey skokiaan".[25] Ethnomusicologist Thomas Turino points out that Glazer's depiction of the jungle setting is far removed from the topography of Southern Africa. But its one-size fits "tropical paradise" idea was typical of exotic treatments at the time for songs from Latin America, Asia, and Hawaii.[26]
In music historian Colin Escott’s liner notes of Moments to Remember: The Very Best of the Four Lads (2000), group member/vocal arranger Bernie Toorish recalled the day the Four Lads’s version came to being.
We had an apartment on East 55th Street in New York. The phone rang at seven o'clock one morning. Mitch Miller wants me at his office. I'm there at maybe 8:10. He gives me an acetate and a lead-sheet of "Skokiaan". He said: "Go home, write an arrangement, then go to Neal Hefti's office". I was at Hefti's around 11:00. There were no copying machines then so I wrote it out again by hand. I woke the guys [Connie Codarini, Frank Busseri, Jimmy Arnold] up around noon. We rehearsed, made the record at 7:00 p.m., and it was in the stores two days later. It sold 750,000 copies.
— Bernie Toorish[27]
In August 1954, Louis Armstrong recorded Skokiaan in two parts with Sy Oliver's Orchestra in New York (Decca 29256). Part 1 (the A side) is a purely instrumental version. In contrast, Part 2 (side B) has Armstrong singing the lyrics.[28] (Despite authoritative claims[5][29] that Armstrong recorded a version entitled "Happy Africa", this cannot so far be substantiated from his discography).[30] On his tour of Africa, Armstrong met Musarurwa in November 1960. Whether both musicians jammed together,[31] or Armstrong just gave Musarurwa a jacket,[32] is unclear. In any case, the difference between the date Armstrong recorded Skokiaan and the date he met Musarurwa appears to invalidate claims that Armstrong did it after he came face to face with Musarurwa.
The Four Lads' version of Skokiaan became the theme song at "Africa U.S.A. Park", a 300-acre (1.2 km2) theme park founded in 1953 at Boca Raton, Florida by John P. Pedersen. The song was played all day long in the parking lot as guests arrived and was sold in the gift shop. The park boasted the largest collection of camels in the United States. After it closed, the site was converted to the "Camino Gardens" subdivision.[33][34] Other urban areas in the United States apparently influenced by the name of the song are Franklin, Ohio, which boasts a Skokiaan Drive,[35] and Skokie, Illinois, which has a Skokiaan Terrace.[36] Bill Haley & His Comets recorded an instrumental version in 1959 that reached No 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1960. With the exception of reissues of "Rock Around the Clock", this would be the band's final chart hit in America.[21][37]
Skokiaan's popularity tracked the transition to electronic music when an instrumental version was recorded by moog pioneers Hot Butter in 1973 on the album More Hot Butter (preserved as a novelty item replete with "jungle" sounds on the compilation album Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 2). It was not the first such treatment of Skokiaan: Spike Jones and the City Slickers recorded a "Japanese Skokiaan" in 1954, sung with a Japanese accent with lyrics about going to Tokyo, written by band member Freddie Morgan, a banjo player and vocalist (RCA Victor 47-5920).[38][39] Ringo Starr's 1974 hit "No No Song" was influenced by, and is sometimes listed as a medley with, Skokiaan.[40]
But true to its origins, Skokiaan remained a favourite standard among brass instrumentalists. In 1978, Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela recorded the song as a brass duet with a Disco flavor for their collaborative album Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela.[41] The tune put "Alpert on the R&B chart for the first time in his career".[42] One of the most recent brass recordings was by Kermit Ruffins on his 2002 album Big Easy. The song is included as a full-length performance by Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield and Troy Andrews in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul and funk.[43][44]
Misconceptions
[edit]Despite its Southern Rhodesian origins, record companies frequently added "South African Song" in brackets to the song's title, as was the case with recordings by Louis Armstrong, the Four Lads, Bill Haley, and Bert Kaempfert. This may have been due to misunderstandings about the difference between what was then Southern Rhodesia and South Africa, two countries in the Southern Africa region. As described in the introduction, "Skokiaan" was composed by a Southern Rhodesian, who was recorded by a South African record company. The lyrics were later added by an American, Tom Glazer. Misled by Glazer's lyrics, some take "Skokiaan" to mean "Happy happy", leading to "Happy Africa" as an alternative title for the music.[5][9] Again, as stated earlier, the term actually refers to a type of illicitly brewed alcoholic beverage (i.e. "moonshine").
The composer, August Musarurwa, was an ex-policeman, who said that the tune was one played in an illegal shebeen when a police raid was imminent. At the time it was illegal for Africans in Zimbabwe to drink anything but the traditional, low-alcohol beer, and certainly not skokiaan, which was usually laced with methylated spirits - illicit distillation was almost unknown in central Africa at the time.
Why the tune was associated with "a Zulu drinking song",[45][46] as it was in a 1954 Down Beat article,[17] is unclear. The Zulu is an ethnic grouping found in South Africa; composer August Musarurwa was a Shona from Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The term skokiaan does occur in both Zulu and Shona and in the Zulu-based lingua franca, Chilolo. These are part of the Bantu language grouping, so they share similar roots. An early identification of skokiaan as a Zulu word which circulated in Johannesburg's slums is found in a scholarly article by Ellen Hellman, dated 1934.[47] Musarurwa himself did not call his tune "a Zulu drinking song". The scanty fragments of his life history do not reveal that he spent time in South Africa, either.[48] In South Africa there is no popular association of "Skokiaan" with a Zulu song. However Southern Rhodesian migrant labourers moved back and forth between their home country and the mines of South Africa, located mostly around Johannesburg, making it unlikely, but not impossible, that Musarurwa's tune got influenced by a putative Zulu song. Such journeys, often by train, led to the emergence of the song Shosholoza. While Shosholoza has become very popular among South Africans, who often sing it to encourage their sports teams, its origins, like that of "Skokiaan", are Southern Rhodesian.
Other usages of the name
[edit]- A six-member band called Skokiaan formed in Liverpool in 1995 to play South African township jazz; they also recorded a version of the song.[49][50] The Liverpudlians are not the only band with a "Skokiaan"-related name.
- A South African township jazz band, led by Sazi Dlamini, lays claim to Skokiana.[51]
Outside the music world, the name "Skokiaan" has been applied to various artifacts other than songs; the relation between these appellations and Musarurwa's music is unclear:
- a bronze sculpture by German artist Detlef Kraft is called Skokiaan[52]
- a modified version of the Centurion tank was named Skokiaan[53]
- the middle name of Zambian-born Australian rugby player George Gregan is Musarurwa.
Chart positions
[edit]Cash Box Best Selling Singles (1954)[22] | Peak position |
---|---|
Ralph Marterie & Orchestra–Mercury 70432 | 2 |
Four Lads–Columbia 40306 | |
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm Band–London 1491 | |
U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores (1954)[23] | Peak position |
Ralph Marterie & Orchestra–Mercury 70432 | 3 |
Four Lads–Columbia 40306 | 7 |
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm Band–London 1491 | 17 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (1954)[54] | Peak position |
Ralph Marterie & Orchestra–Mercury 70432 | 22 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (1960)[37] | Peak position |
Bill Haley & His Comets | 70 |
Chronological list of all versions
[edit]"Skokiaan" has been recorded by these artists, and others:
Year | Artist | Label | Artist's country of origin |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | The African Dance Band of the Cold Storage Commission of Southern Rhodesia | GALLO-Gallotone JIVE GB.1152 | Zimbabwe |
1953 | Jacques Hélian and his orchestra | France | |
1954 | The Shytans | Bruce Records[55] | USA |
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm Band | London Records 1491/ Decca F10350 | Zimbabwe | |
Alma Cogan | HMV 7M 269 | UK | |
Bud Isaacs | RCA 47-5844[56] | USA | |
Enoch Light Brigade Orchestra | Waldorf Music Hall 3304[57] | USA | |
The Four Lads with Neal Hefti Orchestra | Columbia Records 40306 | Canada | |
Jimmy Carroll and Orchestra | Bell Records 1060 306 | USA | |
Preston Sandiford's Orchestra | Big 4 Hits Records #103-8504 | USA | |
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra | Norgran 124[58] | USA | |
Lily Berglund | Karusell K 99.S.1954 | Sweden | |
Louis Armstrong | Decca 29256[59] | USA | |
Olavi Virta | Helmi 450162[60] | Finland | |
Jerry Mengo et son orchestre | Ducretet-Thomson 460V041, 500V057 | France | |
Perez Prado | RCA Victor 47-5839 | Cuba/ Mexico | |
Ralph Marterie | Mercury Records 70432 | Italy/ USA | |
Ray Anthony | Capitol F-2896 | USA | |
Reino Helismaa[61] | Finland | ||
Ted Heath | Decca F10368, Dutton Laboratories/ Vocalion CDLK 4251[62] | UK | |
1955 | Alix Combelle and his orchestra | Philips 432025NE; N 76.046 R[63][64] | France |
Chris Barber's Jazz Band | PolyGram[65] | UK | |
Kipparikvartetti | Triola trlp 101[66] | Finland | |
1956 | Johnny Gomez & Orchestra | Cook Records/Smithsonian COOK01180[67] | Trinidad |
1957 | Southern All Stars | Cook Records/ Smithsonian Folkways Recordings[10] |
Trinidad |
1958 | Alix Combelle et son orchestre | Philips 432.232 BE | France |
Ivo Robić | Jugoton, Zagreb SY 1025[68] | Yugoslavia | |
1959 | Bill Haley & His Comets | Decca 9-31030 and ED 2671[69][70][71] | USA |
Nico Carstens and his Orchestra and Chorus | Columbia 33JSX 11015[72][73] | South Africa | |
1961 | The Fayros | RCA E 3.50; RCA Victor 47-7914[74] | USA |
1962 | Bert Kaempfert | Polydor 825 494-2[75] | Germany |
Oliver Nelson | RCA 62VK701[76] | USA | |
1963 | Bill Black's Combo | Hi-3[77] | USA |
Paul Anka | RCA2614-STEREO[78] | Canada | |
1964 | H. B. Barnum | Imperial Records 66046[79] | USA |
Johnny Baldini | Combo Record 404 | Italia | |
1965 | Bob Moore | Hickory Records # 1357 | USA |
Carl Stevens | Mercury Records PPS 6030[80] | ||
James Last | Polydor 249 043[81] | Germany | |
The Shangaans | EMI Records TWO 109; Columbia Mono 33JSX 76; Columbia Stereo Studio Two 109J[82][83] | South Africa | |
1967 | Desmond Dekker (as "Pretty Africa") | Pyramid PYR6020 | Jamaica |
Zlatni Dečaci | Jugoton EPY 3745[84] | Yugoslavia | |
1968 | Blind Hog | Vulcan V-106[85][86] | |
1969 | Sound Dimension (as "African Chant") | Studio One | Jamaica |
1970 | Nico Carstens | Columbia SCXJ 11188[87] | South Africa |
1972 | Sugar Belly and the Canefields | Port-O-Jam Records[88] | Jamaica |
1973 | Hot Butter | Musicor MS-3254[89] | USA |
James, Jill and Jackson | Imperial 5C 006-24845[90] | Netherlands and Belgium | |
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra | UK | ||
1974 | Josh Graves | Epic KE-33168[91][92] | USA |
Matti Kuusla | Rondo rolp 10 LP[93] | Finland | |
1978 | Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela | A&M/Horizon Records 0819[41] | USA/ South Africa |
Kai Hyttinen | Gold disc gdl 2001 LP[94] | Finland | |
Snowmen | Gold disc gds 202 45[95] | Finland | |
1981 | Prima Vera (spelled "Skokiian") | Falsk/RCA Victor/Sonet | Norway |
1984 | Brave Combo | Four Dots FD1010[96] | USA |
1986 | Vesa-Matti Loiri | Flamingo fgl 4004[97] | Finland |
1992 | Boka Marimba | Dandemutande 9[98] | USA |
1994 | Chaia Marimba | Dandemutande 87-C[99] | USA |
1995 | Liberación | Disa 2016[100] | Mexico |
1996 | African Jazz Pioneers | Intuition CD INT 3099-2[101] | South Africa |
Sauli Lehtonen | Mtv mtvcd 101[102] | Finland | |
Boka Marimba | Dandemutande 143-C[103] | USA | |
1997 | Kushinga Marimba Ensemble | Dandemutande 249-T[104] | Zimbabwe |
1998 | Zimbira | Dandemutande CD[105] | Australia[106] |
1999 | Joe Goldmark | HMG3009[107] | USA |
Skokiaan | UK | ||
Zambezi Marimba Band | Dandemutande 254-C[108] | USA | |
2000 | Boereqanga | Nebula Bos Records[109] | South Africa |
Proteus 7 | Dorian xCD-90266 | USA[110] | |
2002 | The African Jazz Pioneers | Gallo[111] | South Africa |
Fessor's Big City Band | Storyville STC1014247[112] | Denmark | |
Kermit Ruffins[113] | Basin Street Records | USA | |
Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center | Dandemutande 389-C[114] | USA | |
2003 | Boka Marimba | Dandemutande 483-C[115] | USA |
Soweto String Quartet | BMG Africa CDCLL 7052[116] | South Africa | |
2005 | Jimmy Smith | Empire Musicwerks/Hot JWP Music[117] | USA |
Kuzanga Marimba | Dandemutande 609-C[118] | USA | |
Masanga Marimba Ensemble | Dandemutande 600-C[119] | USA | |
St.-Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review | ШнурОК[120] | Russian Federation | |
2006 | Binnsmead Marimba[121] | USA | |
Zinindika Mirimba | Dandemutande 638-C[122] | USA[123] | |
2013 | The Wiggles | Furry Tales (ABC Music) | Australia |
Versions whose release dates are not known
Artist | Label | Artist's country of origin |
---|---|---|
Roland Alphonso | Jah Life[124] | Jamaica |
Barsextett Ralph Dokin | CBS[125] | |
Chikoro Marimba[126] | Canada | |
Gayle Larson and the Toppers | Tops-EP-242[127] | |
Lonnie Donegan | Xtra 26533[128] | |
The Mertens Brothers | Belgium | |
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra | Transatlantic Records[129] | USA |
Ray Colignon | Philips P 10404[130] | Belgium |
The Revelairs[131] | USA | |
The Titans[132] | ||
The Vikings | RCA Victor 71.300[133] | |
Antonio Morel Y Su Orquesta[8] |
See also
[edit]- August Msarurgwa, Zimbabwean composer and first recorder of the song
- Tom Glazer, American singer who added lyrics to the 1954 version
- Marimba, because many arrangements of the song with this instrument were popular
References
[edit]- ^ Kutema Musasa, by Musekiwa Chingodza. Dandemutande Catalog, Track 2. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Foreign News: Deadly Drink, Time Magazine, May 14, 1956
- ^ Coplan, David B.. 2006. Sophiatown and South African Jazz: Re-appropriating a Cultural Identity. Africultures, 1 April. Retrieved 5 February 2008. (Archived by WebCite).
- ^ OneHitWonder Central. Subject: Forgotten Music. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b c Turino, Thomas. 2000. Nationalists, Cosmopolitans, and Popular Music in Zimbabwe, University of Chicago Press, p. 141.
- ^ Hugh Tracey, 1903–1977. SWP Records. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Various: Bulawayo Jazz – Southern Rhodesia". Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). 2006. Music and Words. musicwords.nl Retrieved online from internetarchive.org 5 February 2008. - ^ a b Turino (2000), p. 143.
- ^ a b Samuelson, Meg. 2007. Yvonne Vera's Bulawayo: Modernity, (Im)mobility, Music, and Memory. Research in African Literatures, Vol. 38 Issue 2, pp. 26, 33 note 10.
- ^ a b Taylor, Lori E and Leah Gross. 2005. Cook Recordings Inventory. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Austerlitz, Paul. 2005. Jazz Consciousness: Music, Race, and Humanity. Wesleyan University Press, pp. 105–106.
- ^ Stone, Ruth M. 1999. The Garland Handbook of African Music. Routledge, p. 346.
- ^ Dansez avec Alix Combelle et son grand orchestre.. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Dansez avec Alix Combelle et son grand orchestre. Album cover. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Coltrane, John. 2004. John Coltrane – Complete Studio Sessions With Johnny Hodges. Definitive Classics 11258. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ Music from the Hugh Tracey archives.. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b c d 1954. S. African Tune Latest Smash on Discs in U.S. Downbeat Magazine, 8 September. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ 1955. Top Jock. Time Magazine, 14 February. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ New Pop Records. 1954. Time Magazine, 13 September. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Highlife Piccadilly. African Music on 45 rpm records in the UK, 1954–1981. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b "Cruz Ayala, José G." Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) no date. A brief research on the historical background of "Skokian [sic] á go go". "Bill Haley Tribute, Part II", from La Historia del Rock 'N' Roll. Retrieved 6 February 2008. - ^ a b The Cash Box Best Selling Singles. 1954. Week ending 16 October 1954. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b LostAvenger. 2004. Old Billboard Charts from the 1940s & 1950s. ukmix.org. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ Corliss, Richard. 2001. That Old Feeling: Yesterday When We Were Young. Time Magazine, 18 May. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Skokiaan: August Msarurgwa/Tom Glazer. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Turino (2000), p. 142.
- ^ (2000) Moments to Remember: The Very Best of the Four Lads by The Four Lads [CD booklet]. New York: Taragon Records and Sony Music TARCD-1079.
- ^ VinylToVideo. Armstrong, Louis. 1954. "Skokiaan" Parts 1 and 2. Decca 29256. Complete playback of both sides on last.fm. Retrieved 8 February 2008. Opens video file directly.
- ^ Ansell, Gwen. 2005. Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa. Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 38.
- ^ Minn, Michael and Scott Johnson. 2008. Louis Armstrong: Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
- ^ Pan African Network Trust. Mahube Sound. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Musarurwa: Composer of 1951 mega-hit song Skokiaan. Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ AfricaUSA>Lifshitz, Ken. 2006. Down By Our Vineyard. Excerpt. PDf file. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Theme song". Africa USA. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Warren County Ohio Website. Unclaimed Funds. PDF file. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Skokie.org Village Map. PDF file. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b The Billboard Hot 100.[dead link] 1960. Bill Haley & His Comets. "Skokiaan" (South African Song). Chart Listing for the Week of 18 January.
- ^ cdBBQ Jones, Spike. 1954. A 7" single: I want Eddie Fisher for Christmas/ Japanese Skokiaan. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Answers.com. Freddie Morgan. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Harris, Keith; Eddy, Chuck (25 March 2015). "Meet the Beatle: A Guide to Ringo Starr's Solo Career in 20 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
The music's real root, though, is apparently the Rhodesian number "Skokiaan", (first recorded in 1947), the title of which actually gets affixed to certain pressings of Ringo's records.
- ^ a b tijuanabrass.com Archived 18 May 2006 at archive.today. Herb Alpert/Hugh Masekela. A&M/Horizon Records CD-0819. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ herbalpert.com Archived 17 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Herb Alpert Chronology. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "IAJE What's Going On". Jazz Education Journal. 37 (5). Manhattan, Kansas: International Association of Jazz Educators: 87. April 2005. ISSN 1540-2886. ProQuest 1370090.
- ^ Make It Funky! (DVD). Culver City, California: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005. ISBN 9781404991583. OCLC 61207781. 11952.
- ^ 1954. New Pop Records. Time Magazine, 13 September. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ Crockett, Dick. 2007. Still Another Jazz Show, 23 April. jazzweek.com. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ Hellman, Ellen. 1934. "Beer Brewing in an Urban Yard", Bantu Studies 8, p. 55.
- ^ 2006 Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Musarurwa: Composer of 1951 mega-hit song Skokiaan. The Herald, 6 December. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ Skokiaan. Bio at SonicGarden. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
- ^ Soweto via Liverpool Cultural Dissent, Green Left Weekly issue No 349, 17 February 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Bräuninger, Jürgen and Sazi Dlamini. 2005. Yinkosi Yeziziba (2002). Ingede: Journal of African Scholarship Vol. 1, No. 3. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Kraft, Detlef. 2001. Skokiaan. Bronze, 207 x 85 x 50 cm. Bildhauerpreis der Darmstädter Sezession für junge Künstler. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Antill, P. 2001. Centurion Main Battle Tank (UK). Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ The Billboard Hot 100.[dead link] 1954. Ralph Marterie. "Skokiaan". Chart Listing for the Week of 31 December. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ^ The Shytans. 1954. "Skokiaan" / "Tea For Two Mambo". Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Isaacs, Bud". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). "Skokiaan" /"Yesterday's waltz". RCA. Retrieved 6 February 2008. - ^ Edwards, David, Patrice Eyries and Mike Callahan. 2005. Waldorf Music Hall Album Discography. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Hodges, Johnny. 1954. Sweet As Bear Meat c/w Skokiaan. Norgran Records Catalog. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ DECCA 29256. DECCA Numerical Listing. DECCA 29256. The Online Discographical Project. http://www.78discography.com. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
- ^ Olavi Virta.1954. Kootut levyt osa Helmi. http://www.aanitearkisto.fi. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Helismaa, Reino. 1954. Skokiaan Afrikkalainen laulu -nuotit suom Reino Helismaa. Antikvariaatti.net. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Decca Singles & Rarities. Ted Heath and his music. cdUniverse.com. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Vian, Boris. 1955. Dansez avec Alix Combelle. 33 tours 25 cm. De Vian la Zizique – une discographie...chansons, textes et apophtegmes. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Combelle, Alix. 1955. Dansez…avec Alix Combelle – Sélection 2. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Chris Barber. 1955. Live in 1954–55 Best of Dixieland. cdUniverse.com. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Kipparikvartetti. 1955. Skokiaan. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Jonny Gomez & Orchestra. Skokiaan. Recording details. Smithsonian Global Sound. Calypso. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Robić, Ivo. 1958. Ivo Robic uz Kvintet Nikice Kalogjere Zagreb. barikada.com. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Decca 9-31030 Gordon, Terry. Rockin' Country Style. A discography of Country Rock and Roll and Related Records. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Decca ED 2671 Gordon, Terry. Rockin' Country Style. A discography of Country Rock and Roll and Related Records. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Haley recorded a second version in 1966 for the Orfeon label in Mexico.
- ^ Carstens, Nico. 1959. Goue Plaat. Columbia. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Carstens, Nico. Vetseun. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Holz, Charlie. The Fayros. The Online Guide to Singles. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Kaempfert, Bert. 1962. A Swingin' Safari & Safari Swings Again. Polydor. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Nelson, Oliver. 1962. The Oliver Nelson Verve/Impulse Big Band Sessions #233. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Black, Bill". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). 1963. The Untouchable Sound of the Bill Black Combo. Retrieved 5 February 2008. - ^ Anka, Paul. 1963. Our Man Around the World. RCA. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Holz, Charlie. H. B. Barnum. The Online Guide to Singles. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Matsubayashi, Kohji. PPS-6030 African Sounds / Carl Stevens. Mercury. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Last, James. 1965. Hammond à gogo, Vol. 2. James Last und seine Hammond Combo. Polydor. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ The Shangaans.. The Shangaans...frontiers of Afrocentric rock. Discography: Jungle Drums. South African Rock Encyclopedia.. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ The Shangaans. 1965. Jungle Drums. EMI. discogs.com. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Zlatni Dečaci 1967. Sadko. Jugoton. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ^ Blind Hog. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Blind Hog. 1968. "Rockin' Pneumonia" / "Skokiaan." Way Kool Records. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Carstens, Nico. 1970. Boere Brass. Columbia. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Sugar Belly. 1972. "Skokian" & "Mother's Eyes". Port-O-Jam. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
- ^ Callahan, Mike, Dave Edwards and Patrice Eyries. 2006. Hot Butter – Moog Hits. Musicor Album Discography, Part 3: Main Series MS 3200 to MS 3275 1970–1975. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Gitlin, Alex. Jack Jersey. Alex Gitlin's Music Site. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. Josh Graves: Alone at Last. Midomi Fan Club. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Lambert, Gerard. Josh Graves. Site perso de Gerard "Rocky" Lambert. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Kuusla, Matti. 1974. "Skokiaan". Paita paita ja peppu. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Hyttinen, Kai. 1978. Elämän siteet. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Snowmen 1984. "Skokiaan". Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Brave Combo. 1984. World Dance Music. Four Dots. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Vesa-Matti, Loiri. 1986. "Skokiaan". Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Boka Marimba. 1992. Dance Music of Zimbabwe. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Chaia Marimba. 1994. Chaia Marimba. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Liberacion. 1995. 15 Super Exitos. Disa. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ African Jazz Pioneers. 1996. Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Jelly review. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Lehtonen, Sauli. 1996. Mun aika mennä on. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Boka Marimba. 1996. Boka Marimba Live: Weaving the Rhythms. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ skokiaan 1997. Kushinga Mambo. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Zimbira. 1998. One for Juan Fife. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Zimbira". Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). 1998. Zimbira Home Page. Dandemutande. Retrieved 8 February 2008. - ^ Goldmark, Joe. 1999. All Hat, No Cattle. HMG. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Zambezi Marimba Band. 1999. Marimba Song. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Boereqanga. 2000. Made in South Africa. Featuring Nico Carstens (accordion) and Dave Ledbetter (piano). Nebula Bos. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Proteus 7. 2000. Cha Cha Lounge. Dorian.
- ^ Bowers, Jack 2002. The African Jazz Pioneers: The Best of the African Jazz Pioneers. Review. All About Jazz. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Fessor's Big City Band. 2002. Kobophelo. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Ruffins, Kermit. 2002. The Big Easy. Basin Street. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center. 2002. Musimboti. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Boka Marimba. 2003. Serevende. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Soweto String Quartet. 2003. Our World. BMG Africa. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Rickert, David. 2005. The Fantastic Jimmy Smith. Review, All About Jazz. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Kuzanga Marimba. 2005. Living Happily, Free From Fear. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Masanga Marimba Ensemble. Masanga Marimba Ensemble. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ [1] St.-Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
- ^ Binnsmead Marimba. 2006. A Shadow's Reflection. CDBaby. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Zinindika Mirimba. 2006. Zinindika. Dandemutande. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Zinindika Marimba". Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Zinindika home page. Retrieved 8 February 2008. - ^ Alphonso. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ Dokin. Noch Mehr Zum Tanzen Träumen Und Verliebtsein. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Chikoro Marimba. Dare You Not to Dance. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Larson, Gayle". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). "Shake,rattle&roll"/"Skokiaan"/"This old house"/"If I give my heart to you". Retrieved 6 February 2008. - ^ Donegan, Lonnie. The Early Years. Xtra. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ The Pasadena Roof Orchestra. The Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Transatlantic Records. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Colignon, Ray. Come Dance With Me. Philips. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ [The Revelairs.]. Rare Surf, Vol. 2: South Bay Bands. Originally recorded ca. 1962–64. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ The Titans. Free Flight: Unreleased Dove Recording Studio Cuts 1964–'69. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ The Vikings. Rock Party at the Club Pepsi. RCA Victor. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
External links
[edit]Audio
[edit]- 2007. 78s fRom HeLL: The Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band – In The Mood (1954). I'm learning to share. Tuesday, 10 April. Blog with extensive visual material on "Skokiaan", including newspaper clippings, record label, and full mp3 download.
- Full audio recording of 1954 version of "Skokiaan" by the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band at Beat the Devil blog by Brian Nation, 2 May 2005. [2] (requires Flash).
- Recordings of Musarurwa (Msarurgwa) and other Zimbwabwean jazz artists between 1950 and 1952 by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey on CD [3].
- Audio versions of the song by the Four Lads, Perez Prado, Bill Haley, and Louis Armstrong and Hugh Masekela [4] (requires RealMedia, registration).
- MP3 sample of Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center's 2002 Zimbabwean marimba arrangement of "Skokiaan" (Sikokiyana). Opens sound file directly. [5]
- Full versions of "Skokiaan" by Kermit Ruffins as well as St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review and Joe Goldmark.
Visual
[edit]- Sheet music of the song Skokiaan.
- Images and history of Africa U.S.A..
- Photograph of the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band. (Archived by WebCite)