Who was the father of rap?
QUESTION Did Pigmeat Markham invent rap?
RAP music involves the recitation of lyrics rapidly and rhythmically, usually over a funky beat. It often covers topics such as sex, violence and political issues.
The verb ‘rap’ has various meanings, such as ‘to strike, especially with a quick or light blow’. The Oxford English Dictionary gives a date of 1541 for the first recorded use of the word, with the meaning ‘to utter (esp. an oath) sharply, vigorously, or suddenly’.
Hip-hop culture, and rap specifically, emerged in African-American and Latino neighbourhoods in New York City in the early Seventies. The breakout single is usually cited as The Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 hit Rapper’s Delight, which influenced rap giants such as RunDMC and N.W.A.
However, a host of music could be called proto-rap. More than a century before rap appeared, West African musicians were telling stories rhythmically, with a drum beat. Folk artists from the Caribbean Islands told stories in rhyme. In the Sixties, Jamaican DJs were mixing records at parties while talking to the audience.
Dewey ‘Pigmeat’ Markham’s (1904-1981) claim rests on his 1968 track Here Comes The Judge, which peaked at No.19 on the Billboard charts. It has many of the hallmarks of rap, such as rapid spoken delivery, funky beats and political overtones. Markham started out in travelling music shows. In the Twenties he was part of Bessie Smith’s Travelling Revue. He was popular with black audiences for his ‘here come da judge’ schtick, which mocked formal courtroom etiquette. He shot to fame after Sammy Davis Jr borrowed his routine for a 1968 episode of Laugh-In.
Perhaps a better candidate for first rap song is Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965). This has quick delivery, politics and drug references, straight from its first line: ‘Johnny’s in the basement mixing up the medicine / I’m on the pavement thinking about the government’.
Graham Long, London.
QUESTION Sheriff Bob Paul was described as ‘one of the toughest lawmen in the Old West.’ What is his story?
ROBERT ‘Bob’ H Paul was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1830. On July 18, 1842, aged 12, he went to sea and, after four years, tried his luck in the California gold fields.
He remained in California for the next 30 years as constable, deputy sheriff, sheriff and Wells Fargo agent and occasionally shotgun messenger. He was ideally suited for the role, standing 6ft 6in. and possessing a firm sense of justice.
In 1881, Paul ran for the office of Pima County Sheriff in Arizona against Charles A Shibell.
When Shibell was re-elected, Paul accused him and his supporters Ike Clanton, Curly Bill Brocius and Frank McLaury of ballotstuffing and filed suit in the courts.
While the decision was pending, Paul rejoined Wells Fargo as a shotgun messenger. On March 15, 1881, the driver of the stagecoach carrying $26,000 in silver bullion from Tombstone to Benson, Arizona, fell ill and Paul took the reins. Near Drew’s Station, outside Contention City, outlaws tried to rob the stage. Eli ‘Budd’ Philpot who was sitting in the guard’s seat was shot and killed. Paul shot one of the attackers in the groin, and brought the panicking horses under control. He later joined the posse which set out to round up the felons.
Arizona Territorial Supreme Court then ruled in Paul’s favour and he became Pima sheriff.
In April 1883, in Tucson, he singlehandedly prevented the lynching of Joseph Casey, who had murdered his jailer. Paul served as Pima County sheriff until 1886 and later as a railroad detective.
In 1890 he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as US Marshal for the entire Arizona Territory and held that post until 1893, after which he served as Justice of the Peace in Tucson. Paul died of cancer on March 26, 1901, and was buried in Tucson’s Court Street Cemetery.
Alan Parker, Sheffield.
QUESTION Under the Soviet regime the Russian people used humour to express their desire for freedom and reform. What were some of these jokes?
FURTHER to earlier answers, Vladimir Ivanov goes to buy a bottle of beer. He puts a rouble on the counter and takes the beer. The next week he goes for another bottle and puts a rouble on the counter. The assistant tells him the price is now two roubles: ‘One for the beer and one for perestroika.’
A week later he puts two roubles on the counter. The assistant gives him a rouble back. Vladimir asks: ‘What’s this, the old price?’ The assistant says: ‘No, we haven’t any beer’.
Philip E Robinson, Ashby, North Lincolnshire. A QUESTION asked of applicants for Communist Party membership: ‘What is your attitude to the Soviet authority?’ One applicant answered: ‘The same as to my wife. First, I love her; second, I fear her; third, I wish I had another one.’
A frightened man came to the KGB to say: ‘My talking parrot disappeared.’
‘This is not our case,’ he was told. ‘Go to the criminal police.’
‘I know. I am just here to tell you officially that I disagree with the parrot.’
Maria Wilmots, Bristol.
QUESTION Living in Eccles made me think: what other towns are known for one item?
FURTHER to earlier answers, Armitage Shanks bathroom sanitary ware range is known worldwide. This year is the 200th anniversary of the firm’s founding.
In 1867, Thomas Bond bought the business and it traded as Edward Johns until 1960 when the name was changed to Armitage Ware. Shanks ‘appeared’ in 1969 when Armitage Ware merged with Scottish company, Shanks Holdings. Not many folk will know that the name Armitage comes from a village in South Staffordshire where the company has existed for 200 years.
Until the early Fifties a journey through the village would have offered views of 20 bottle kilns or more. Today you would hardly know there was a factory there.
Sam Woodberry, Armitage.
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