Ford T. Dabney (1883-1958)
Last updated: 07.08.18
Ford T. Dabney was an American, pianist, conductor, composer, songwriter, and recording artist. He was born in Washington, D.C. into a family of professional musicians his uncle, Wendell Phillips Dabney (1865-1952), being a distinguished music educator. He was taught piano by his father and studied theory, harmony, and composition with Charles Donch, William Waldecker, and Samuel Fabian. Dabney was appointed by President Noro Alexis of Haiti as that country's court musician, a post which held between 1904 and 1907. He later celebrated this period with his Haytian Rag (1910) and Porto Rico Rag (1910). After various vaudeville activities he became friends with James Reese Europe and played a part it setting up the legendary Clef Club, a union of African-American musicians, becoming its musical director and president. Together they became involved with Vernon and Irene Castle, the most prominent dancers of the day, eventually writing some eight compositions for them. These included Castle Maxixe andCastle Perfect Trot. Dabney's career declined after the Europe's death. He continued to live well however on the royalties from his most successful song, Shine (1910) which was recorded by Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Bing Crosby amongst many others.
Websites:
Websites:
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Ford T. Dabney | Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards |
| Performer | CD Title | Supplier |
|---|
| Ragtime Music CDs: | |||
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Six Brown Brothers | on "Rusty Rags" | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s)        |
|
Ton Van Bergeyk | on "Black & Tan Fantasy" | |
|
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra | on "Black Manhattan Vol. 2" | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
|
The Skirtlifters | on "A Ragtime Episode" | |
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St. Louis Ragtimers | on "The St. Louis Ragtimers: Volume 3" | |
|
Al Turk | on "The Complete Recordings 1924-1926: Chicago Rhythm/Hot Dance and Ragtime" | |
|
Craig Ventresco | on "The Past Is Yet To Come" | |
| Item | Title | Available | € | £ | $ | Other |
|---|
| DBE700 | Anoma (1910) - Characteristic Rag D/A/T/T/B/B/GB(B), approx. 4¼ mins. |
1-2 days |  |
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| DBE701 | Georgia Grind (1915) A/T/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 3¾ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE702 | Haytian Rag (1910) A/T/T/B+T/B/GB(B), approx. 3mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE703 | Oh! You Devil (1909) - Rag A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B), approx. 4½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE704 | You Can't Shake That Shimmie Here (1919) - Song T/T/B+T/B/GB(B), approx. 2½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 12 works by Ford T. Dabney (1883-1958). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located.
Oh! You Devil (1909)  | Oh! You Angel (1911) |
| Anoma (1910) | Castle Valse Classique (1914) |
| Haytian Rag (1910) | The Georgia Grind (1915) |
| Porto Rico Rag (1910) | The Last Waltz (1915) |
| That Minor Strain (1910) Words by: Cecil Mack | You Can't Shake That Shimmie Here (1919) |
| That's Why They Call Me Shine (1910) Words by: Cecil Mack | Shine (1924) Words by: Cecil Mack, Lew Brown |
