BUFFALO GALS

Now literally worldfamous, the song known as Buffalo Gals is generally credited to one John Hodges (18211891), whose minstrelstage character was called Cool However, that name is only its last name, established after its 1848 publishing by the minstrel group, the Ethiopian Serenaders. It had also seen published versions under the title Lubly Fan, by Hodges, Cool White in 1844; De New York Gals, by C. G. Christman, similar but different, also in 1844; another version titled Bowery Gals, published in a songster (collection of contemporary songs) in 1845, and in again in 1849, in The Ethiopian Glee Book: containing songs by the Christy In addition to becoming widely popular by virtue of its insistent rhythm and catchy melody, both the Ethiopian Serenaders and the Christy Minstrels were wellknown for adapting the chorus of the song to celebrate the name of the city or town where they we