“Whistling Rufus”

“Whistling Rufus”

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Description
The sheet music for the song “Whistling Rufus” was written and composed by Kerry Mills and published by F. A. Mills of New York, New York in 1899. The cover depicts whistling Rufus playing a guitar, and the lyrics call him “A great musician with a high position/ was whistling Rufus, the one-band man.” The cover shows well-dressed African-Americans dancing in the background, and Rufus seems to be playing at one of the cakewalks that would soon became famous across America.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
sheet music
publishing date
1899
composer
Mills, Kerry
publisher
F. A. Mills
place made
United States: New York, New York
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 14 in x 11 in; 35.56 cm x 27.94 cm
ID Number
1979.1154.20
accession number
1979.1154
catalog number
1979.1154.20
Credit Line
Gift of C. Malcolm Watkins
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Music & Musical Instruments
Sheet Music
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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