Fables of Faubus

"Fables of Faubus" is a song composed by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus. It was written as a direct protest against Arkansas governor Orval E. Faubus, who in 1957 sent out the National Guard to prevent the integration of Little Rock Central High School by nine African American teenagers.

The song was first recorded for Mingus' 1959 album, Mingus Ah Um. It is often claimed that Columbia refused to allow the lyrics to be included on this album, though the liner notes to the 1998 reissue of the album state that the piece started life as an instrumental, and only gained the lyrics later. Whichever is the case, it was not until 1960 that Mingus released the song with lyrics, on the album Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, which was recorded for the more independent Candid label. On this album, in possible reference to the censorship the song had received, it was titled "Original Faubus Fables".

The personnel for the Candid recording were Charles Mingus (bass, vocals), Dannie Richmond (drums, vocals), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone), and Ted Curson (trumpet).

The song, either with or without lyrics, was one of the compositions which Mingus returned to most often, both on record and in concert.

Mingus' song has been recorded by other jazz musicians, including Gerry Mulligan, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Hunter, Oliver Lake, Project and the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. The Normand Guilbeault Ensemble released a version called "Fables of (George Dubya) Faubus" in 2004.

The Mingus Big Band did a recording of "Fables of Faubus" off of their record entitled "Gunslinging Birds". In the background, the piano player can be heard playing tunes of the civil war, like the Confederate "(Take Me Home to) Dixie" and Federal "Battle Hymn of the Republic", as to emphasize the hatred for racism that Mingus possessed.

References

• Charles Mingus: More Than a Fake Book. ISBN 0-7935-0900-9.