The Black Hills have echoed with music since Native Americans first chanted their haunting melodies. Musical history of the Hills centers on old Fort Meade. It was there that "The Star Spangled Banner" received the impetus needed to later become our national anthem.
The year was 1892 and Fort Meade Commander Caleb Carlton sought a song to be played every evening when the flag was lowered. Carlton's wife suggested "The Star Spangled Banner" and the commander agreed. From there the playing of this song became customary at every Army post each evening. Later the military anthem became the national anthem by a 1931 act of Congress. Were it not for a commanders wife at a Black Hills cavalry post, our national anthem might be "America the Beautiful" or some other tune.
At the turn of the century a bit of musical history was made at a Lead bordello called Annie's Place. The house piano player was George Norton, and he had fallen in love with Maybelle. Now history is unsure that if Maybelle was a prostitute, but Norton was sure he loved her. The song that came to be known as "My Melancholy Baby" was written by Norman for Maybelle. He first scribbled it on the back of an old envelope while awaiting his love at a train depot. His lyrics were later set to music by Ernie Burnett. Norton died before "Baby" became a hit tune of World War I.
In 1874 Custer's Expedition advanced on the Black Hills bringing what must have been the first band. A mounted band was then considered essential to maintaining proper martial spirits. Custer's 16-piece band was flexible, for they could play everything from the 7th Cavalry's battle song "Gerry Owen" to a funeral dirge. They played such a dirge at services for two troopers who died in the western Black Hills.
Custer didn't bring the 7th Cavalry Band along on his next big expedition, which ended in tragedy at the Little Big Horn.
10/01/03