[7] When the Bearcats were deployed to Europe, Higgins was chief entertainer for the 14-day trip — which included a stay at Camp Upton, New York, and a Transatlantic crossing aboard the Saxonia.
Early on, after arriving, they organized a regimental show and entertained guest of the 805th Pioneer Infantry, among whom included the Congressional Committee on Military Affairs, the Staff College of the American Expeditionary Forces, and several other visitors of high rank.
Our father which art in Washington Baker be thy name May the telegrams fly to Chatel-Chéhéry, as they do at G. H. Q. Forgive the mess sergeant and the top-kicker And all those who wear bars and trespass against us Oh, lead us not into the Army of Occupation And deliver us from another service stripe Give us a boat that we may see some blue water And go to God's country And live in peace forever and ever — Eight Men "Bull Frog Hop"
Stew the rice, do the seven-year itch and the possum trot Then you scratch the gravel in a vacant lot Slap your hands and then you squat — That's that bullfrog hop "You'll Find Old Dixieland in France"
(chorus) The first thing you do is when attention's called Stand up straight, one and all Forward march, column right — keep your interval — Then you close up tight Company halt — 'bout face — Stand at ease with style and grace Squad's right and double time — That's the dance that made the Kaiser Get back 'cross the Rhine[8] Higgins rose to the rank of color sergeant.
[9] After returning to the US at the end of World War I, Higgins joined the Loew touring circuit, Quintard Gailor Miller's (1895-1979) company, and then the Coleman Brothers'[Notes 1] Creole Follies, which opened in 1922 at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem.
[6] Higgins also wrote popular songs, including "There'll Be Some Changes Made", "Early in the Morning", and "Georgia Blues", chiefly collaborating with composer Benton Overstreet.
In the 1920s, he recorded several duets with female blues singers, namely Josie Miles,[10] Viola McCoy, Kitty Brown, and Alberta Perkins.
Their marriage ended and on February 19, 1925, Snow married jazz trumpeter and singer Russell T. "Pops" Smith (de) (1891–1966) in Mason City, Iowa.
The existence of Mary Ann Booker was not widely known by the public until 1960, when Jerry Vogel Music Co., Inc., served notice of an assignment of the copyright renewal rights it had obtained from her in 1958 for $500.
The matter became more confusing when, on May 20, 1968, the Supreme Court ruled on a different kind of case that seemingly diminished the standing of an "illegitimate child" as an heir to rights and title under an estate.
[15] With Bubber Miley (coronet), Louis Hooper (piano), Elmer Snowden (banjo), possibly Joe Davis (chimes on the first song) Recorded in New York City, circa October 30, 1924 "Who Calls You Sweet Mama Now?"