Cherokee

[Paul Mackin]

DudiousMax at aol.com wrote:

>   The
> original "hit" in the thirties was by a Band fronted by a saxophonist,
> Charlie Barnett (I think.  Help me Paul.)

Hi Max, glad you're back.
Yes, that was the version that made it a hit in the States. It was also the
preferred version by most people I think.
About needing to know the song and chord structure to dig what Bird was doing
this might be a problem now but but back then virtually everyone without a tin
ear would have had this ability. That's how ubiquitous hit songs were.

By the way, though the lyrics do sound vapid on paper the effect isn't so bad
the way they are usually sung--they are sort of chanted. Very little expression.
Supposed to sound like some kind of Indian chant I spose.

                                                   P.