During a community celebration of Lee Morgan, I felt like a contestant on the TV show “Name That Tune” except that I already knew the name of the tune. I was unexpectedly stumped by a seemingly innocuous question: Why did Lee Morgan name his smash hit “The Sidewinder?”
I had a vague recollection but not a good answer. So after the event, I asked my research assistant, ChatGPT, why the tune is titled “The Sidewinder.” As is their wont, the chatbot hallucinated:
”The Sidewinder” is a well-known jazz composition by trumpeter Lee Morgan, released in 1964. The title of the song is believed to have been inspired by a dance move called “The Sidewinder” that was popular at the time.
The dance move involved a sideways shuffle or sway, often accompanied by a swinging motion of the hips. It was a trendy dance step in the early 1960s, particularly in urban dance clubs and social gatherings.
An intelligent Facebook friend said the title “was inspired by a TV show that he used to watch.” And then the light bulb went off. The answer was right in front of me. In the album liner notes, Lee told Leonard Feather: “The tune kind of put me in mind of the sidewinder – you know, the ‘bad guy’ on television.”
Lee never specified which TV show or bad guy. Popular Westerns in the 1950s and ‘60s included “Gunsmoke,” “Have Gun, Will Travel,” “Rawhide,” “The Rifleman” and “The Virginian.” Lee’s nephew, Darryl Morgan Cox, told me his uncle liked “Bonanza.”
I asked ChatGPT about the bad guy on “Bonanza.” Their response:
That said, a few notable adversaries or recurring characters who caused trouble for the Cartwrights include:
Outlaws and Criminals: The show featured various episodes involving outlaws, bandits, and criminals who posed threats to the Cartwrights and their community.
Rival Ranchers: At times, the Cartwrights clashed with rival ranchers and landowners over disputes involving territory, water rights, or cattle.
Corrupt Officials: Occasionally, the Cartwrights faced challenges from corrupt lawmen, government officials, or individuals abusing their authority.
Personal Enemies: Some episodes explored conflicts arising from personal vendettas or longstanding feuds between characters.
Overall, while “Bonanza” did not have a central group of recurring “bad guys,” the show’s episodic format allowed for a variety of conflicts and adversaries to be introduced, contributing to its long-lasting popularity and appeal.
I was still curious about the dance move named the “sidewinder” so I prompted my other research assistant, Google Gemini:
It’s possible the “sidewinder” refers to a more specific dance within a particular dance community or cultural context. If you have additional information about where you encountered the term “sidewinder” dance, I might be able to provide more specific information.
It’s possible ChatGPT was tripping. The dance move the chatbot describes sounds like Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady.”
