• • In 1928, she performed a rag that she especially loved onstage in "Diamond Lil" and its Hollywood counterpart "She Done Him Wrong" [1933]. The lyricist and composer of this song — — "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone" — — was Shelton Brooks [4 May 1886 — 6 September 1975], who published it around 1913. He was good friends with Mae's maid Bea Jackson; his nickname for her was "Hot Story Telling."
• • Born in Amesburg, Ontario, Canada, Shelton Brooks moved to Detroit in 1901 with his family; his parents were Native American and Black. His father was a preacher and Shelton and his brother would play the organ during services.
• • Surrounded by music, Shelton wrote his first big hit in 1910 — — "Some of These Days" — — using his own lyrics. He had already introduced the song in his own vaudeville act when Sophie Tucker's maid introduced both him and the tune to Sophie. The vaudevillian, who would eventually style herself as "the Last of the Red Hot Mamas," made this number her very own theme song.
• • "Walkin' the Dog" • •
• • His 1916 instrumental tune "Walkin' the Dog" inspired a dance that first swept dancehall-crazed New York City, and then the rest of the country. That year, the variety act "Mae West and Sister" performed "Walkin' the Dog" as their grand finale.
• • A lifelong lover of black culture, Mae's ears were drawn to the relaxed, finger-snappy Shelton Brooks sound.
• • "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone" — — Shelton Brooks's playful song, which Mae performed in 1933 in her first blockbuster hit film, was also been recorded by a diverse group of song stylists such as Tampa Red & His Hokum Jug Band, Sophie Tucker, Liza Minnelli, Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon, Peter Bocage, Kid Thomas Valentine, Le Petit Jazzband de Mr. Morel, and others.
• • On September 6th, Shelton Brooks died in Los Angeles in 1975 when he was 89 years old. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone" [lyrics] • •
• • • • Miss Susie Johnson is a crazy as can be
• • • • About that easy riding kid they call Jockey Lee
• • • • Now, don't you think it's funny, only bets her money
• • • • In the race friend Jockey's goin' to be
• • • • There was a race down at the track the other day
• • • • And Susie got an inside tip right away
• • • • She bet a hundred to one that her little Hon
• • • • Would bring home all the mon
• • • • When she found out Jockey was not there
• • • • Miss Susie cried out in despair....
• • • • I wonder where my easy rider's gone today
• • • • He never told me he was goin' away
• • • • If he was here he'd win the race
• • • • If not first, he'd get a place
• • • • I never saw that Jockey trailing anyone before
• • • • I'm losing my money, that's why I am blue
• • • • To win a race, Lee knows just what to do
• • • • I'd put all my junk in pawn
• • • • To bet on any horse that Jockey's on
• • • • Oh! I wonder where my easy rider's gone
• • • • Oh! I wonder where my easy rider's gone
• • • • He went to put my brand new watch in pawn
• • • • I see him comin' round that turn
• • • • What a trail that man can burn
• • • • He's gonna win because my dough is on the nose
• • • • Just watch my Jockey's easy rider stance
• • • • He'll hit that home stretch, win it by a mile
• • • • I want him to win this spree
• • • • And keep a-goin' till he comes to me
• • • • Oh! I wonder where my easy rider's gone
• • • • Oh! I wonder where my easy rider's gone
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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