Annotation:Dick Carrol's Clog
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DICK CARROL'S CLOG. American, Clog. E Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Edward Le Roy Rice, in his book Monarchs of Minstrelsy (New York, 1911), gives this entry on Dick Carroll:
R.M. CARROLL, or "Dick" as he is better known, or "Master Marks" as he was originally known to the profession, probably has the greatest number of years of theatrical service of any one in minstrelsy. Mr. Carroll is best remembered as a dancer, and he was one of the world's greatest; but in his early career he was a splendid wench performer; he was the third one to do "Lucy Long"; a great feature of old-time minstrelsy. Mr. Carroll's first public appearance was at Tinkham Hall of Grand Street, New York City; the occasion was the benefit of an elderly Irish lady, long since departed-this was in 1837. For many years he danced at balls and parties. About 1845 he first appeared professionally at the Bowery Amphitheatre, New York City, in a circus, and shortly after this at the Bowery Theatre he blacked up for the first time with "Daddy" Rice, playing in "Bone Squash." The year following he played his initial minstrel engagement with Charley White's Company, also in New York; he remained with White several seasons. In 1854 he was with Buckleys Serenaders in New York; in 1858 with Sniffen's Campbell's Minstrels, likewise in the metropolis.
February 14, 1859, he made his first appearance as a member of Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge's Minstrels in Boston, where he became a great favourite, remaining about three years. In his long career Mr. Carroll played with many prominent minstrel organizations, notably Kelly and Leon's; at Hooley's, at the latter's theatre in Brookly, N.Y., with little Dick, his son, he began an engagement there March 14, 1870. Subsequently with Dick, Jr., and Dick's brothers, Edwin and Bennie, they played for several years in the principal variety theatres of the country. In Sept., 1878, he opened Carroll's Comique, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and several weeks later, with his sons, began an engagement with Cotton and Wagner's Minstrels. It may be interesting to know that Mr. Carroll and the late J.K. (Fritz) Emmett, had a minstrel show once; Carroll and Emmett's Minstrels opened at De Bar's Opera House, St. Louis, Mo., June 1, 1868.
R.M. Carroll and John Queen (afterwards Queen and West), were the first to do a double clog dance, about 1862. Mr. Carroll likewise originated the famous song "Me Father Sold Charcoal." His sons, Bennie and Edwin, died in New York City, September 18, 1877, and at Denver, Colo., March 5, 1905, respectively. Mr. Carroll played the variety houses for several years with his well known dancing specialty "Mortar and Bricks." R.M. Carroll was born in New York City April 10, 1832.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 120. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 159.
Recorded sources:
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