The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” is a show tune from the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. The piece was part of trumpeter Miles Davis’s repertoire in the 1950s, which probably motivated other jazz musicians to play it. Rodgers adored classical music, especially Brahms, and was an avid symphony concert-goer. Perhaps that’s why he famously hated other musicians tampering with his tunes — nobody would tamper with Brahms, would they? But his songs’ enormous popularity meant they were constantly in the ether, and in other musicians’ consciousness. Even though he didn’t like it, his songs became perfect vehicles for the musical transformations that occur in jazz. One vehicle in particular sparked other musicians’ imaginations; jazz people couldn’t stop tinkering with a certain surrey, topped with silk fringe.
Songs with Banjo from Harold Hagler
