Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake, born James Hubert Blake on February 7, 1887, in Baltimore, Maryland, was a pioneering American pianist and composer known for his significant contributions to ragtime, jazz, and popular music. Raised by parents who were formerly enslaved, Blake showed musical talent from a young age, beginning to play the organ at four or five. By his teenage years, he was performing in brothels and saloons, and he later secured steady engagements at the Goldfield Hotel in Baltimore and clubs in Atlantic City.
In 1915, Blake began a long and fruitful collaboration with singer and lyricist Noble Sissle. Together, they created the groundbreaking musical "Shuffle Along" in 1921, which was one of the first Broadway musicals written and directed by African Americans. This production was a landmark of the Harlem Renaissance and featured enduring hits such as "I'm Just Wild About Harry."
During World War I, Blake worked with bandleader James Reese Europe, managing his musical business operations while Europe led the Harlem Hellfighters band. After the war, Blake and Sissle became the first African American musical act to perform professionally without wearing blackface.
Blake's compositions include "Bandana Days," "Charleston Rag," "Love Will Find a Way," and "Memories of You." His career experienced a resurgence in the 1960s, and he became a celebrated figure until his death. In 1978, his music was celebrated in the Broadway musical "Eubie!" and in 1981, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.
Eubie Blake passed away on February 12, 1983, in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in the history of American music.
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