PERIOD MUSIC
It is well to remember the almost casual racism of the times. Some of these songs use lyrics, or have titles, that would be considered offensive in these more "enlightened" times .... but which would have not even been remarked upon then.
This casual racism - an automatic assumption of inferiority - in many ways is the most insidious of all forms of race hatred. If a person succeeds, then they are "not typical," and of they fail, it's "only what you'd expect from a (insert racial epithet of your choice here).
History is what it is. We don't sugar-coat it; we don't change it to be "nice." This is how it was, "warts and all." Some of these tune titles and lyrics will give you a faint idea of what the men of the 9th Cavalry - and the 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry - were up against, brown, black and white.
That they succeeded so well is a mark of their tenacity, courage and sheer ability.
Some of these are actual period recordings on wax cylinders and therefore they are not up to the sound quality of today. They are old, and scratchy. Click on the song title to listen, and go back in time!
1889
- 5th Regiment March (oldest known band recording) - Unknown brass band
1890
- John Phillip Sousa - Semper Fidelis - US Marine Band
- John Phillip Sousa - The Thunderer - US Marine Band
- Washington Post - US Marine Band
1894
1895
- El Capitan - Sousa's Band
- Washington Post - Sousa's Band
- King Cotton - Sousa's Band
- Yazoo Dance - Sousa's Band
- The Darkie's Temptation - Sousa's Band
1897
- My Gal's A Highborn Lady - Len Spencer
- Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight - Len Spencer
- Crappy Dan - Len Spencer
- All Coons Look Alike To Me - Len Spencer
- Liberty Bell March - Edison Concert Band
1898
- Break The News To Mother - George J. Gaskin
- At A Georgia Camp Meeting - Dan Quinn
- My Old Kentucky Home - Edison Male Quartette
- Charge Of Roosevelt's Rough Riders - Colombia Orchestra
- Battleship Of Maine - Joe Bethancourt
- Cuban Soldier - The Carter Family
- Just Before The Battle, Mother - Frank Stanley
- Bye Bye My Honey I'm Gone - Billy Golden
1901