William Christopher Handy :: essays research papers

William Christopher skilledHandy was an American black composer and compiling program of "BLUES" melody. Hewas born in Florence, Alabama. He was educated at the Negro Agricultural andMechanical College near Huntsville, Alabama. He was the countersign of reason slaves.He was educated in the public schools and by his father and maternal grandfather,both of whom were clergymen. Handy was the first to bring the African- Americanblues to the public publics attention with the publication of his MEMPHIS BLUESin 1912. He began his musical rush as a cornet soloist and bandmaster withminstrel shows one of his earislst engagements was with the Worlds Columbian exhibition in Chicago in 1893.     Handy also founded a music publishing house and edited and wrote severalbooks , including the autobiographical Father of the vapours (1941). Originally,the blues were a type of black folk song littler kn protest beyond the southern UnitedStates. Handys songs brought the blues to international attention.Handys calling was rooted in popular music. He began his career in 1896 asa minstrel show and vaudville corntist and bandleader and then became one of thefirst publishers of music by black composers.     William Christopher Handy was born on Nov,16, 1873, in Florence, Ala,the son of former slaves . As a 15-year-old he left home to pass water in a travelingminstrel show, but he presently returned when his money ran out. He attended TeachersAgreicultural & Mechanical College in Huntsville, Alabama, and worked as aschool teacher and bandmaster. In 1893, during an economic depression, he organizea quartet to perform at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. For severalyears laterward he drifted around the country workings at different jobs.Eventually he settled in Memphas, Tenn.     Although he lost his eyesight at age 30, after WW1 he conducted his ownorchestra from 1903 intill 1921. His eyesigh t partially returned, but he becamecompletely blind after a fall from a subway platform in 1943.     Handy wrote music during the period of transition from ragtime to jazz.The music he had absorb during his youth consisted of spirituals, work songs,