Wc handy father of the blues book

Handy, the father of the blues, brought the music of rural southern blacks into the mainstream by ing old songs and writing new songs, spurring the blues into the mainstream of popular music during the 1910s and 20s. In this book, he tells in detail how he came to compose his most famous pieces, including memphis blues, st. Handy right nods approval and chuckles as an eighthgrade pupil, donell callaway, wails blues on his trumpet in new york city in 1954. Handy was not the first blues musician by any stretch, but he was very instrumental in taking the genre out of regional purgatory and exposing it to wide mainstream audiences at the turn of the 20th century. Here is the first major biography in decades of the man who gave us such iconic songs as st. It is probably more true to say he was a talented composer who became a great collector and populariser of the blues, who was also largely responsible for bringing this local folk music from the mississippi delta to national and world attention. In his autobiography, handy traced the key events in his discovery of the blues back to his time in the mississippi delta, beginning in 1903. Here is a recording of the famous jazz standard st. They revived the foundation in texas to promote the legacy of w. For information on licensing any of wc handy s song, images, or works, please contact us and someone will get back to you within five business days. Wc handy blues hall of fame wc handy father of the blues.

Days after his death a movie based on his life, st. Handy himself stated that, far from inventing the blues, he merely wrote. He was married to irma louise logan and elizabeth virginia price. William christopher handy november 16, 1873 march 28, 1958 was an american blues composer and musician known as the father of the blues. Although handy s writings never gave a specific date for the tutwiler event, the u. Mar 19, 2007 musician and composer william christopher w. He spent his final years in new york city before his death on march 28, 1958. Handy, known as the father of the blues, discussing his childhood as the son of religious parents, his early love for music, and his role in popularizing the blues. Handy father of the blues 1947 chicago, il concert. Tomorrow god bless america compositions, arrangements and books. Handy, american composer who changed the course of popular music by integrating the blues idiom into then fashionable ragtime music.

Baltimores in a massive identity crisis since its identity as a hard core blue collar party town vanished when the steel. The song, published on sheet music in 1912 and widely. Handy, in full william christopher handy, bornnovember 16, 1873, florence, al. Booktopia has father of the blues, an autobiography by w. He also issued anthologies of african american spirituals and blues and studies of black musicians. After the publication of his autobiography, handy published a book on africanamerican musicians, unsung americans sung 1944.

Handy was born on november 16, 1873 in florence, alabama, usa as william christopher handy. Through his original memphis based company in 1912, and its reinvention in 1918 upon relocating to new york city, he achieved international fame for broadening the appeal of black music, and giving. Not only did handy help create the music, but he also helped preserve it through recordings and publications. Wc handy was the father of the blues, at least thats what it said in his autobiography. William christopher handy wc handy father of the blues.

Senate accepted 1903 when it declared 2003 the centennial year of the blues. Handy was born on november 16, 1873, in florence, alabama. Handy, known as the father of the blues, enjoyed recognition in his lifeti. Handy 18731958 was a sensitive child who loved nature and music but not until he had won a reputation did his father, a preacher of stern calvinist faith, forgive him for following the devilish calling of black music and theatre. Louis blues, written in 1914, and other classicssuch as beale street blues, memphis blues, careless love. Handy tells us how the transition was made from marches, classical music, dance music, stephen foster, vaudville tunes and folk blues to the arranged and orchestrated blues and jazz of the 20th century. Handy, father of the blues, an autobiography mass market paperback january 1, 1970. Handy, african american composer, bandleader, publisher, and father of the blues, combined the contemporary ragtime and latin rhythms he had encountered in vaudeville, minstrel shows, and extensive travels with the black folk music of his heritage into the unique twelvebar harmonic structure that became known throughout the south as the blues. William christopher handy, widely honored as the father of the blues, was born in this house on november 16, 1873. Handy s autobiography, father of the blues, is an accurate assessment of his contribution to american music.

Jul 28, 2020 handy continued working steadily throughout the 1930s, publishing negro authors and composers of the united states in 1935 and w. Within a few years, handy had composed the introduction of what would become known as blues to the world with his song memphis blues. The poster features photos of the headline acts, most notably including w. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Handy the father of t he bluesdies with all their differences, my forebears had one thing in common. Born in florence, alabama on november 16, 1873, william christopher handy became interested in music at an early age. Louis blues, was released starring nat king cole, cab calloway, ella fitzgerald, and more. It led to his autobiography, father of the blues, which besides its historical value, was also a guide to emerging black musicians, such as b. Musician, composer, and music publisher, william christopher handy was one of the most influential american songwriters. Wc handy snakey blues father of the blues in memoriam. He introduced the blues genre to the world in 1912 through a series of highly successful, authentic, blues songs adapted to a style that western society could understand.

Handy autobiography father of the blues mississippi blues. His father, a minister, felt that music was an unwise career choice for him and, indeed, the young handy experienced years of poverty and homelessness at first. Handy 18731958 was a sensitive child who loved nature and music. Handy 9780306804212 from boomerang books, australias online independent bookstore. Born in a log cabin in florence, alabama, on november 16, 1873, william christopher. In father of the blues, handy presents his own story. Handy was described as the father of jazz as well as the blues. Handy blues legacy foundation inc in keeping with the tradition, his sole surviving grandson, dr. Handys hill songbirds and school days wilberforce, wallace and wanderlust maharas minstrel men work is the measure of worth mississippi mud pee wees, pimps and politics memphis blues a bungled bargain st. An autobiography da capo paperback, which can be purchased at a lower price at. Father of the blues an autobiography by w handy teachme. Autobiography of african american composer, cornetist, band leader, and publisher w. Handy brothers music company wc handy father of the blues. Remembering the father of the blues nls music notes.

In his 1941 autobiography, father of the blues, handy wrote. Handy s remarkable life started eight years after the conclusion of the american civil war. Handy himself stated that, far from inventing the blues, he merely wrote them down and brought the blues to the masses. W handy clapton the autobiography by eric clapton books on. He was also a highly trained veteran of the music world who led all manner of groups. Handy william christopher handy is best known for st.

Handy, once so famous as the father of the blues that he was memorialized with a bronze monument in memphis, is not nearly as well known. Louis blues and solvent bank blue diamonds in the rough polished and mounted mother from beale street to broadway trouble, trouble, ive had it all my days. Handy, edited by harlem renaissance novelist arna bontemps. It led to the famous louis armstrong record, his favorite, louis armstrong plays w c handy in 1954. Handy later published an adaptation of this song as yellow dog blues, and became known as the father of the blues after he based many of his popular orchestrations on the sounds he heard in tutwiler. Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more. Wc handy father of the blues brought delta blues to national. Handy encounters the blues mississippi blues trail. Louis blues, the memphis blues, and beale street blues, and who was responsible, more than any other musician, for bringing the blues into the american mainstream. A nearlifesize statue of handy holding his cornet and identifying him as the father of the bl. Widely known as the father of the blues, handy is recognized as one of the leaders in popularizing blues music. He died on march 29, 1958 in new york city, new york, usa.

He has written books and bible notes for brf for a number of years, and has. Handy, once so famous as the father of the blues that he was memorialized with a bronze monument in memphis, is not nearly as well known today to people who are not either music. Through his original memphis based company in 1912, and its reinvention in 1918 upon relocating to new york. Wc handy s autobiography father of the blues has been selected as an inductee into the blues hall of fame at the blues foundations 38th annual induction ceremony.

In addition to publishing music, handy wrote several books about music as well as an autobiography. William christopher handy november 16, 1873 march 28, 1958 was a composer and musician who referred to himself as the father of the blues. It all started with a boy that had to exchange his guitar for a dictionary. Louis blues, written in 1914, and other classicssuch as beale street blues, memphis blues, careless love, and yellow dog blues forever changed.

His music introduced a vital musical form that still resonates today a. Where the tennessee river, like a silver snake, winds her way through the clay hills of alabama, sits high on these hills, my home town, florence. Handys blues memphis blues, beale street blues, st. Not only did handy help create the music, but he also helped preserve it. A lean, loosejointed negro had commenced plunking a guitar beside me while i slept. Other artists like muddy waters, bessie smith, and b.

As one of our recommendations and recommended books, we recommend w. Here is youtube post of bessie smiths 1925 recording of w. Handy s father of the blues 1941 is autobiographical, revealing handy as likeable, generous, and at times naively conservative. Vote crump for mayor heart like a rock father of the blues selected discography.

The blues foundation welcomes the 38th class of blues hall of fame inductees in a ceremony taking place on may 10, 2017. William christopher handy is often called the father of the blues because of his enormous contribution, during the early years of the 20th century, to the introduction of this style of music to the world. We were in florence, alabama to see the home of the father of the blues, w. Fellow blues performer jelly roll morton wrote an open letter to downbeat magazine fuming that he had actually invented jazz. Young handys interest in music was discouraged by his family and his church.