William Christopher Handy, known as the Father of the Blues, was born on this day in Florence, Alabama. A classically trained musician and composer, Handy was instrumental in popularizing the blues genre by transcribing and publishing blues music, bringing African American folk traditions to broader audiences. His most famous compositions include “St. Louis Blues”, “Memphis Blues”, and “Beale Street Blues”.
Handy’s work laid the foundation for modern American music, influencing jazz, rock, and R&B.
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