W. C. Handy
1873–1958 (age 85)
Composer
Biography
William Christopher Handy, 1873-1958, earned the grateful title "Father of the Blues" for bringing the sounds of the American South to public stages and sheet music. His journey from the riverbanks of Alabama to the bright lights of New York City was marked by a commitment to honoring African American folk traditions in every composition he published.
Through works such as "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues," Handy fashioned a musical language that inspired generations of musicians and helped open concert halls and recording studios to the blues. His legacy endures in classrooms and concert programs that continue to study and celebrate the expressive power he distilled from community gatherings and street performances.