W.C.Handy

Full biography W.C.Handy

William Christopher Handy, also known as W.C. Handy, was an African American composer, musician, and bandleader who is widely known as the “Father of the Blues”. Handy was born on November 16, 1873, in Florence, Alabama, and grew up in a musical family where he learned to play the cornet and other instruments.

After a brief stint in teaching, Handy left for Memphis, Tennessee, in 1903, to pursue his interest in music. He formed his own band and began performing in clubs and at parties in Memphis, where he quickly became popular. It was during this time that he began to compose his own music, drawing on the influences of African American folk songs, spirituals, and blues.

Handy’s breakthrough came in 1912 with the publication of his song “Memphis Blues”. It was the first blues song to gain national acclaim and became a massive hit, launching Handy’s career and making him a household name. Over the next few years, he wrote and published a number of other blues songs, including “St. Louis Blues,” which became one of the most covered songs in the history of American music.

In addition to his career as a composer and musician, Handy also played an important role in the popularization of the blues in America. He helped to popularize the blues by introducing the genre to white audiences in the North, among other things.

Although Handy faced a number of challenges as a black composer in a predominantly white industry, he continued to break barriers throughout his career, paving the way for future generations of African American musicians.

Handy died on March 28, 1958, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in blues music.