Introduction
1923 song by Cecil Mack and James P. Johnson "The Charleston" is a jazz composition that was written to accompany the Charleston .1923 song by Cecil Mack and James P. Johnson "The Charleston" is a jazz composition that was written to accompany the Charleston .
It was composed in 1923, with lyrics by Cecil Mack and music by James P. Johnson, a composer and early leader of the stride piano school of jazz .It was composed in 1923, with lyrics by Cecil Mack and music by James P. Johnson, a composer and early leader of the stride piano school of jazz .
The song was featured in the American black Broadway musical comedy show Runnin' Wild, which had its premiere at the New Colonial Theatre in New York on October 29, .The song was featured in the American black Broadway musical comedy show Runnin' Wild, which had its premiere at the New Colonial Theatre in New York on October 29, .
The music of the dockworkers from South Carolina inspired Johnson to compose the .The music of the dockworkers from South Carolina inspired Johnson to compose the .
The dance known as the Charleston came to characterize the .The dance known as the Charleston came to characterize the .
Lyrics, though rarely sung (an exception is Chubby Checker's 1961 recording), were penned by Cecil Mack, himself one of the most accomplished songwriters of the early .Lyrics, though rarely sung (an exception is Chubby Checker's 1961 recording), were penned by Cecil Mack, himself one of the most accomplished songwriters of the early .
The song's driving rhythm, basically the first bar of a 3 2 clave, came to have widespread use in jazz comping and musicians still reference it by .The song's driving rhythm, basically the first bar of a 3 2 clave, came to have widespread use in jazz comping and musicians still reference it by .
Harmonically, the song features a five chord ragtime progression (I III7 VI7 II7 V7 ).Harmonically, the song features a five chord ragtime progression (I III7 VI7 II7 V7 ).
Recordings from 1923 of The Charleston entered the public domain in the United States in .Recordings from 1923 of The Charleston entered the public domain in the United States in .
In popular culture
The song has been used in a number of films set in the .The song has been used in a number of films set in the .
Ginger Rogers dances to the music in the film Roxie Hart ).Ginger Rogers dances to the music in the film Roxie Hart ).
In the movies Margie (1946) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946), the song is played during school dance .In the movies Margie (1946) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946), the song is played during school dance .
In the movie Tea for Two (1950), with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, the song is a featured production .In the movie Tea for Two (1950), with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, the song is a featured production .
A version performed by Enoch Light and the Charleston City All Stars is used in Woody Allen's 2011 film Midnight in Paris, which largely takes place in the .A version performed by Enoch Light and the Charleston City All Stars is used in Woody Allen's 2011 film Midnight in Paris, which largely takes place in the .
The track "Bang Bang" from the 2013 film The Great Gatsby, performed by .
.
Am, samples the .Am, samples the .
One of the most famous recordings of the song was by The Golden Gate Orchestra in 1925, which has been inducted into the National Recording .One of the most famous recordings of the song was by The Golden Gate Orchestra in 1925, which has been inducted into the National Recording .