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BLACK IN TIME: A Moment In OUR History

Hugh Gaddy · Monday, November 16th 2009 at 1:44AM · 193 views

William C. Handy

William Christopher Handy, The Man Known As "The Father Of The Blues," Was Born November 16, 1873, In Florence, Alabama.He Published "Memphis Blues" On September 27, 1912, And Gave The World Its First Uniquely African American Music Form. Handy Was A Trained Musician Who Made Blues Music More "Respectable" And Mainstream. Traditionally It Had Been Heard In Brothels, Saloons Train Yards And The Back Streets Of The Mississippi Delta. And While He Did Not Invent Blues Music, He Was The First To Make It Contemporary, By Notating And Putting It To Sheet Music, Thus, Making It Suitable For Publication. For That He Remains One Of The Most Influential American Songwriters In History. W. C. Handy Died March 28, 1958. "In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.