Kentucky-born Charles “Doc” Cook led his first band at age 15 in Louisville. He moved to Chicago in 1922 and formed “Cook’s Dreamland Orchestra” which featured cornetist Freddie Keppard and recorded many excellent sides at a recording session for Gennett in 1924.
While “Doc” was a common nickname for The nickname was legit: as Cook earned his Doctor of Music degree from the Chicago College of Music in 1926.
He led this Chicago band full of New Orleans musicians during the late 1920s that played a dance hall at the White City amusement park. After the entire orchestra’s instruments were stolen off the bandstand after a dance marathon, the band broke up and Cook moved to New York City, where he worked as an arranger for Radio City Music Hall and RKO.
This tune is a jaunty toe-tapper, with lots of syncopated moments (as advertised) to keep dancers on their feet. At a key moment in the composition, the band enthusiastically shouts out “Slue Foot! Do That Step!”
Recorded in Chicago on June 15, 1927.
Released as Columbia 1070-D.
Credits:
Doc Cook (Charles L. Cooke) – director
George Mitchell, Elwood Graham – cornet
Bill Dawson, Fayette Williams – trombone
Jimmie Noone – clarinet
Joe Poston – alto sax
Billy Butler – alto sax, violin
Clarence Owens – tenor sax
Jerome Carrington – piano
Johnny St. Cyr – banjo
Bill Newton – tuba
Andrew Hilaire – drums