Joe Brown, one of the world’s greatest jig dancers, made his first appearance at Albany, N. Y., in 1844. His first New York engagement was in the fall of 1852; August 3, 1857, he opened with “Christy’s” Minstrels in London, England, remaining with, them until about 1860, when he joined Nish’s “Christy” Minstrels, opening in Cape Town, South Africa, August 20, 1862. Prior to the opening he and the company were shipwrecked, losing everything except his clothes; a handsome silver belt he won from Dick. Sliter in 1856 was amongst the things lost.
| J. A. BASQUIN A. BAMFORD | FRANK GIRARD BILLY BARRY | “LITTLE MAC” BILLY RICE |
“MERRY MINSTREL MEN.”
Returning to England in 1863, he organized Joe Brown’s “Christy” Minstrels, visiting Egypt and India; returning to London, opened at St. James Hall, June 11, 1866. In 1868 he paid a brief visit to the United States, then returned to England.
Joe Brown was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 2, 1830; he died in Glasgow, Scotland, October 25, 1883.
C. D. Abbott was a prominent musician of the early days of minstrelsy, when those performers were artists in their respective lines, and each one was a soloist.
He died at La Salle, Ill., May 20, 1864.
Wm. Henry Rice made his first minstrel appearance September 19, 1859; “Daddy” Rice died exactly one year later.