Will Marion Cook House facts for kids
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Will Marion Cook House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Will Marion Cook House
Location in Manhattan
Will Marion Cook House
Location in New York
Will Marion Cook House
Location in the United States
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| Location | 221 West 138th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | D.H. King |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | St. Nicholas Historic District (ID75001209) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001238 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated CP | October 29, 1975 |
The Will Marion Cook House is a special old house located at 221 West 138th Street in Harlem, New York City. This part of Harlem is also known as Strivers' Row. It was the home of Will Marion Cook (1869-1944), who was a very important African-American musician and composer. He lived here from 1918 until he passed away in 1944. Will Marion Cook had a big influence on many famous musicians who came after him, like Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, and Josephine Baker. Because of his importance, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
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About the Will Marion Cook House
The Will Marion Cook House is on the north side of West 138th Street. It sits between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan. This area, called Strivers' Row, was a popular place for many well-known people to live. This was especially true during the exciting time of the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century.
What the House Looks Like
The house is one of sixteen similar buildings. They are all three stories tall and made of brick. A developer named David H. King built them in 1891. The style of the houses is called Renaissance Revival.
The first floor of the house has two main sections. The front door is on the left side, set inside a rounded archway. On the second floor, there is a large window with three parts. It has narrow windows on the sides and a bigger window in the middle. These parts are separated by decorative columns. Above the middle window, there is a half-round panel made of terra cotta. This design makes the window look a bit like a Palladian window. The third floor has a central window with narrow windows on either side, separated by brickwork. All the windows on the first and third floors have special flat arches made of terra cotta above them.
Who Was Will Marion Cook?
Will Marion Cook was a truly important figure in American music. He lived in this house from 1918 until his death in 1944. The famous musician Duke Ellington even called him the "master of all masters of our people." Cook was a leading black composer and musician.
Cook's Musical Training
Will Marion Cook received classical training in music. He learned to play the violin from famous teachers, including Antonin Dvorak. Dvorak was a very well-known composer from Europe.
Cook's Influence on Music
Even though he was trained in classical music, Cook faced challenges in that world. So, he decided to make his mark in theater instead. He used African-American musical styles and themes in his compositions. This helped create new sounds and stories on stage.
Cook was also one of the first people to use musical improvisation. This means making up music on the spot. His ideas helped lead to the creation of jazz music. He also played a role in the rise of the Big Band Era, which was a very popular time for large jazz orchestras.
Will Marion Cook was a mentor and inspiration to many musicians. He guided artists like Eubie Blake and Duke Ellington. He also helped his wife, the talented singer Abbie Mitchell, with her career.
