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...
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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...
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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...
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In the following essay, Kay examines the early publication history of blues songs other than Handy's, but concludes that “the greatness of William Christopher Handy remains unchallenged....
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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 ...
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In the following essay, Abbott and Seroff trace the origins of blues music in southern vaudeville and consider the growth of popular blues.
The era of popular blues music was not suddenly set into ...
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American blues musician (b. March 27, 1915, Turkey Scratch,
Ark.
—d. Nov. 21, 2006,
Cleveland, Ohio
), was perhaps best known for his relationship with blues legend
Robert
Johnson
, but he...
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American musician (b. Sept. 9, 1946,
Houston, Texas
—d. June 6, 2006,
Scottsdale, Ariz.
), was the consummate sideman as a keyboard player, recording and touring with a Who's Who of popular...
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Every region of the country has its own piece of Americana that locals brag about to visitors.Increasingly, they are asking Congress to help spread the word through a little-known federal program t...
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Every region of the country has its own piece of Americana that locals brag about to visitors. Increasingly, they are asking Congress to help spread the word through a little-known federal program ...
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Fried grits, down-home blues and a new luxury hotel will be central to the newest development taking shape in the city's famed Beale Street entertainment district.
The ...
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Legendary bluesman Robert Johnson's death has been linked to a jealous husband, the supernatural and pneumonia. So it's unsurprising that there are three separate graves bearing his name in the rur...
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Looking back on this past year of Manhattan Music columns, I’m struck by a misnomer: The term “classical music” can’t possibly cover 500 years of compositions, a history tha...
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Looking back on this past year of Manhattan Music columns, I’m struck by a misnomer: The term “classical music” can’t possibly cover 500 years of compositions, a history tha...
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