Coon! Coon! Coon! (1900)🦝🎶 Leo Friedman & Gene Jefferson

Composer Leo Friedman was born in Illinois in 1869. He wrote the music for "Coon Coon Coon" in 1900 and lyrics were later added by Gene Jefferson. It became the most popular song of 1901. Friedman was best known for his waltz "Let Me Call You Sweetheart".

Another musician keeping these coon songs alive is my friend John Reed-Torres! Here's "Coon Coon Coon" on a 19th c square piano in an antique shop in Sedalia, Missouri, which I've played! I recorded his piece "Déjà vu" for my 2013 album of contemporary ragtime with the same name.

"The term coon, a shortened form of raccoon alluding to cunning, was used to refer to Native Americans, Whigs, and "sly rustic" types before being used to describe African Americans." "Coon songs" were immensely popular, written and enjoyed by all races.

Here's Arthur Collins & Joseph Natus singing "Coon Coon Coon" in 1901. Collins was known as the King of the Ragtime Singers. Natus was a minstrel singer who recorded several records with Collins. Great harmonies in the chorus here!

Since I was banned from BandCamp, I moved my music to Gumroad. Although they generally have been better to work with, lately they've been removing my songs if they have the word "coon" on the cover. So you can get BOTH versions (coon+troon) with this link:

Uncle Ruckus listening to this song:

Mood.

I think I have a new favorite song