Andy Razaf

(01/11/2001 14:11)

As early as the year 1895, just as Madagascar is about to become a French colony for the next 64 years or so, little Andy Razaf was born in Washington D.C., USA. Named after his father Henry Razafkeriefo - which refering to actual, current Malagasy spelling and pronunciation is suspected to be Razafinkarefo - Andy at first was called Andream[en] tania Paul Razaf[in]keriefo.

Despite the fact that the young boy's father had royal blood - as being the queen Ranavalona III's nephew - the Razafinkarefo because of which appears to be a terrible ordeal and injustice were forced to head back to the US. In fact, John Louis Waller - Andy's grandfather - who was appointed by the American President Harrison to be the US consul to Madagascar on February 1891, after an argument with the French government was exiled in France. Although her father then was injustly emprisoned and the family name dishonored, on December 12 1895, Jennie Maria Waller Razafinkarefo, nearly 16 at the time, gave birth to her only son.

During his lifetime, despite the fact that he played piano, sang and even taught music in numerous schools and organizations, Andy's most prolific oeuvres were lyrics. Since he was indeed an accomplished poet, many were those associated to the "Melody Man"'s art and worked with him. He produced then, for example, "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Ain't Misbehavin'" with Thomas "fats" Waller, "Under the bamboo tree" with Bob Cole, "Guess who's in town" with J.C. Johnson and finally "Memories of you" with Eubie Blake.

Although the Malagasy-US composer/lyricist lived in several parts of the United States including Washintong D.C., New Jersey and California, his artistic life seems to be rooted in The Big Apple. Indeed, the young Andy Razaf while working in the neighborhood forged his success along Tin Pan Alley - New York City's song-selling district at the time which was located, if you are familiar with the city, along and around West 28th Street - and later on Harlem. A part of Manhattan which Singer describes to be "the place where white audiences and many white music professionals once believed, music and rythm sprang as if from nature" (338).

Thus, as a jazz musician and artist, Andrea Razafinkarefo seems not to have acquired the popularity and recognition that a talented artist should deserve. As a matter of fact, although Andy, according to Singer, started writing his masterpieces at a very young age of 10, his successes seemed to have occured as outbursts of talents. He would for example, at times, receive many credits and recognition for his work - such as with "Honeysuckle Rose", "Ain't misbehavin'", "Memories of you" - and then be totally forgotten for several months and even years.

Nonetheless, Andy Razaf was a very talented artist and when he died, on February 03 1973, of kidney failure - an illness that struck him as early as January 26 1951, he left the field of songwriting and jazz composing an orphan. Today, there are people who try to revive his work and memory; this essay is dedicated to them and for their courage. "You may call me the Dreamer/[and] I don't care if you do" The Dreamer - Andy Razaf.

Source: Black and Blue "The life and lyrics of Andy Razaf." Schirmer books, New York 1992 (cover pictured in photo.)