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 in 1913.• • Born in 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 was 24 years old when he wrote his first big hit in 1910 — — "Some of These Days" — — using his own lyrics. He had already debuted the song in his own variety act when Sophie Tucker's maid introduced both him and the tune to Sophie, then touring through The Windy City. The vaudevillian, who would eventually style herself as "the Last of the Red Hot Mamas," made this 1910 composition her very own theme song.
• • Let's move three years forward to 1913.
• • "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone" — — lyrics • •
• • Published by Will Rossiter in Chicago in 1913, the song combined horse racing and romance with a blues touch.
Though Mae West's rendition [which can be seen on YouTube and endlessly replayed] has given people the idea that she was the first to sexualize the lyrics, that is simply untrue. In fact it was Sophie Tucker, who first introduced this number in vaudeville, who performed it with well-timed sly winks and a veneer of naughty innuendo — — especially when she would sing a suggestive line such as "To be on any horse that jockey's on ...." Here's an excerpt.• • The lyrics tell of a Susie Johnson who bets on a horse race using a tip from Jockey Lee, who subsequently runs off with her money.
• • First verse:
• • • 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
• • Chorus:
• • • 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"
• • • Cash in our winnings, on a "joy-ride" we'd go, right away
• • • 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 be on any horse that jockey's on.
• • • Oh, I wonder where my easy rider's gone ....
• • From 1910 onward, Shelton Brooks watched his fortunes rise along with Sophie's. His 1916 instrumental tune "Walkin' The Dog" [which inspired a dance that first swept dancehall-crazed New York City, and then the rest of the country] was performed by Mae West in male drag during the shows she did with her sister Beverly in 1916.
• • In 1917, Brooks had another hit with "The Darktown Strutter's Ball," for which he wrote both the words and music.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • You are invited to the Annual Mae West Birthday Tribute to hear the songs of Shelton Brooks (and others) performed live.
• • WHEN: 10:00 PM on Saturday, 14 August 2010 — — one night only
• • WHERE: ACTORS TEMPLE, 339 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036 [where SOPHIE TUCKER became one of their first vaudeville members in 1923]
• • WHO: MAE WEST [Anne Marie Finnie] and SOPHIE TUCKER [Maggie Worsdale], presented and introduced by playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo
• • WHAT ELSE: Shimmy lessons, raffle prizes, goodies, and a chance to win deluxe European scarves featuring MAE WEST’s quotes.
• • SUBWAYS: IND: C, E to West 50th Street station; BMT: N, R, W to West 49th Street station — — exit on the West 47th Street side
• • VIP service available. Please inquire.
• • CONTACT: Miss Sophie — Email: worsdale (at) aol.com — URL: www.thegaudygirls.com
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West's songwriter Shelton Brooks; Sophie Tucker in 1913 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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