Georgia Melodians - Everybodys Charleston Crazy - 1926

Charleston - The dance that defined the defiant spirit of the 1920s is the Charleston, which first appeared in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild (October 29, 1923). Elisabeth Welch introduced the song in this score, composed by JAMES P.JOHNSON with lyrics by CECIL MACK. (They also wrote the standard "Old Fashioned Love" for this production.) Johnson claimed he was inspired by his neighbors in New York's Hell's Kitchen, many of whom had originally come from South Carolina. They would hold house parties at which they did this unusual dance, for which Johnson developed a unique rhythmic accompaniment. Johnson and Mack's "Charleston" influenced other songs with its rhythm, and it inspired a host of numbers that used the word in their titles: "Charleston Baby of Mine," "Charleston Ball," "Charleston Cabin," "Charleston Capers," and "Charleston Charlie." ZEZ CONFREY wrote "Charleston Chuckles," and FATS WALLER wrote "Charleston Hound." Others included "The Charleston Didn't Come from Charleston," "Charleston Rhythm," "Charleston Stampede," "Charleston Your Blues Away," and, in 1926, William Holmes's "Everybody's Charleston Crazy." Johnson and Mack followed their original hit with "Everybody's Doin' the Charleston Now."
Two other dances, novelties and variations of the Charleston, didn't last very long. However, their songs have become standards. One was the DE SYLVA, BROWN AND HENDERSON "Black Bottom," which first appeared in George White's Scandals (June 14, 1926). It was introduced by little Ann Pennington, who had performed in the Ziegfeld Follies since 1913. The same trio wrote "The Varsity Drag" (1927) for their show Good News.

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