W. C. Handy Summary

Handy, W. C. (1873-1958) Though he never would have called himself a blues musician, W. C. Handy is often hailed as the "Father of the Blues." Handy grew up immersed in the folk music of... Read more

The African American songwriter William Christopher Handy (1873-1958), known as the father of the blues, was the first person to notate and publish blues songs. He wrote over 60 blues, spirituals, and... Read more

In the following essay, originally composed in 1938, Morton claims that blues music predates both himself and W. C. Handy, and maintains that he—rather than Handy—was the originator of j... Read more

In the following essay, Davis investigates the influence of Handy's music on William Faulkner's characterization of blacks in his novels. Listening to W. C. Handy's 1916 blues ... Read more