W.C. Handy is known as the "Father of the Blues". He studied music at an early age and played throughout the South in minstrel and tent shows. During his travels he notated music he heard and incorporated it into his own shows. He was the first composer to publish a blues song, "Memphis Blues" in 1912. He went on to publish many more classic blues songs, "St. Louis Blues", "Beale Street Blues" and "Yellow Dog Blues" are just a few. Handy helped to broadcast the blues to the world helping to popularize it. |
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