Muskrat Ramble | Stories of Standards

“Muskrat Ramble” was one of Kid Ory’s early jazz hits. Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five first recorded the piece in February of 1926 and “Muskrat Ramble” quickly became the groups most frequently recorded piece.

Ory was born in La Place, Louisiana, in 1886. He moved to New Orleans shortly after his 21^st birthday and added Johnny Dodds to his band, which remained one of the most successful ensembles in New Orleans for the next seven years.

Ory is widely hailed as the original “tailgate” trombonist and pioneered the definition of New Orleans sound with his brassy sound and exaggerated glissandi. 

After moving to Chicago, Los Angeles, then back again to Chicago, Ory joined Armstrong’s Hot Fives in 1924. “Muskrat Ramble” was penned two years later.

Though Ory claims that he composed the tune by revising an exercise in an old saxophone study book, the origins of the tune remain contentious. Louis Armstrong stated, “I wrote ‘Muskrat Ramble.’ Ory named it, he gets the royalties. I don’t talk about it.”

Sidney Betchet recalls the song differently, saying that the song resembles an old folk song, “The Old Cow Died and the Old Man Cried.”

Ray Gilbert added lyrics to “Muskrat Ramble” decades after the song’s creation, further embroiling the question of ownership surrounding the song. The lyrics were written without Ory’s consent, though after Gilbert protested that he deserved to share credit for the song, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded Gilbert one-third credit on all performances.

Tune in to First Take with Lando and Chavis – weekdays from 6-9 am MT – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vpuFYQwZ5o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5EgASje8MQ