John Hodges (minstrel)

John Hodges (July 28, 1821[1] – April 23, 1891); known as Cool White, was an American blackface minstrel entertainer, who wrote or popularized the song "Buffalo Gals", published by him in 1844 under the title "Lubly Fan".

He debuted in Pennsylvania in 1838, at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia[2][4] and specialized in "dandy" roles: in 1842 he was a particular hit as a character called "Fancy Cool" in Silas S. Steele's Philadelphia Assurance.

In 1843 he organized the Virginia Serenaders and later a troupe called the Sable Melodists.

[5][6] In 1879 he also acted the straight role of Uncle Tom in a stage version of the famous anti-slavery melodrama.

[1] By 1887 White appears to have retired from performance, becoming stage manager for Hooley's Theatre in Chicago.