Fables of Faubus

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"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. However, the version recorded on that album lacked the song's lyrics as a result of Columbia Records believing them to be too controversial for release. Consequently, it was not until 1960 that Mingus was able to release the song as originally intended, on the album Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, which was recorded for the more independent Candid label. On this album, in 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, 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 Confederate tunes of the civil war, like "Take Me Home to Dixieland" and "My Eyes Have Seen the Glory", as to emphasize the hatred for racism that Mingus possessed.


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