W C Handy : Ask Biography

In July 1941, by Carl Van Vechten

Personal information

Birth name

William Christopher Handy

Also known as

The Father of Blues

Origin

Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Genres

Blues, Jazz

Occupation

Composer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, author

Instruments

Piano, cornet, trumpet, vocals

Years active

1893 � 1948

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William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 - March 28, 1958) was a blues composer and musician. He was widely known as the "Father of the Blues".

Handy remains among the most influential of American songwriters. Though he was one of many musicians who played the distinctively American form of music known as the blues, he is credited with giving it its contemporary form. While Handy was not the first to publish music in the blues form, he took the blues from a regional music style with a limited audience to one of the dominant national forces in American music.

Handy was an educated musician who used folk material in his compositions. He was scrupulous in documenting the sources of his works, which frequently combined stylistic influences from several performers. He loved this folk musical form and brought his own transforming touch to it.

W. C. Handy

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