NRR Project: Brother Bones plays 'Sweet Georgia Brown' (1949)

 

NRR Project: “Sweet Georgia Brown”

Music by Maceo Pinkard and Ben Bernie; lyrics by Kenneth Casey

Performed by Brother Bones and His Shadows

Recorded 1949

2:52

Ira Brooker does all the heavy lifting on this song via his excellent essay, here, at the National Recording Registry.

Freeman Davis, working under the sobriquet Brother Bones, performed this essential number with a saxophonist and organist in an L.A. studio. This infectious tune, whistled insouciantly by Davis as he accompanied himself on the “bones” – two literal bones held in one hand and sounded in a compelling, clicking fashion.

“Sweet Georgia Brown” was written in 1925 – but it was never given a better rendition than this. Now known as the theme of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get you moving.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Destination Freedom.