Clorindy: The Origin of the Cakewalk

Despite his traditional musical education in music schools in Europe and America, Cook believed that "Negroes should eschew white patterns" and work to create unique styles to reflect their unique culture, rather than imitating the music of whites. Cook dreamed of presenting the first musical play with an all black cast on Broadway. Encouraged by the vaudeville duo Bert Williams and George Walker, Cook recruited his friend, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, to write the book and lyrics for the new show. == Songs ==

• Darktown is Out To-night • Love in a Cottage is Best • Dance Creole (or Creole Dance) • Who Dat Say Chicken in Dis Crowd • Hottest Coon in Dixie • Jump Back ==Productions==

Cook sought a producer and venue in New York. He met much rejection before bringing his cast uninvited to a rehearsal hall where he heard that another act was auditioning for Edward E. Rice, manager of the Casino Theatre's Roof Garden. Rice eventually agreed to present it. prompting Cook to boast that "My chorus sang like Russians, dancing meanwhile like Negroes, and cakewalking like angels, black angels!" He declared that "Negroes are at last on Broadway, and here to stay!" Cook would later write the first Broadway musical with an integrated cast, The Southerners, in 1904. ==References==