Eubie
Blake, ragtime composer and performer, was born on February 7,1883 in Baltimore,
Md. When he was around four or five, Blake began playing his family's pump
organ. Noticing his interest in music, Blake's parents signed him up for
piano lessons with a neighborhood teacher. In 1898, at the age of 15, Blake
became interested in ragtime, to his mother's dismay. Against her wishes
and without her knowing, he began his professional music career by playing
ragtime piano in Baltimore brothels, honky tonks and bars. He later played
in clubs and saloons. Blake's work led him to meet the major musicians
of the time. One of whom, Noble Sissle, would later become his partner.
Blake and Sissle teamed up with another duo to create Shuffle Along. Many
of Blake's most famous songs come from Shuffle Along including "I'm Just
Wild about Harry" and "Love Will Find a Way". Later, as the popularity
of ragtime faded, Blake took a twenty-three year break from show business.
In 1969, at the age of 56 he returned. Blake toured the world playing piano
and giving lectures on ragtime music. He made an album called The Fifty-six
Years of Blake and he formed his own company. Just over one hundred years
after his life began, on February 12, 1983, Eubie Blake died in Brooklyn,
New York.
Eubie
Blake, ragtime composer and performer, was born on February 7,1883 in Baltimore,
Md. When he was around four or five, Blake began playing his family's pump
organ. Noticing his interest in music, Blake's parents signed him up for
piano lessons with a neighborhood teacher. In 1898, at the age of 15, Blake
became interested in ragtime, to his mother's dismay. Against her wishes
and without her knowing, he began his professional music career by playing
ragtime piano in Baltimore brothels, honky tonks and bars. He later played
in clubs and saloons. Blake's work led him to meet the major musicians
of the time. One of whom, Noble Sissle, would later become his partner.
Blake and Sissle teamed up with another duo to create Shuffle Along. Many
of Blake's most famous songs come from Shuffle Along including "I'm Just
Wild about Harry" and "Love Will Find a Way". Later, as the popularity
of ragtime faded, Blake took a twenty-three year break from show business.
In 1969, at the age of 56 he returned. Blake toured the world playing piano
and giving lectures on ragtime music. He made an album called The Fifty-six
Years of Blake and he formed his own company. Just over one hundred years
after his life began, on February 12, 1983, Eubie Blake died in Brooklyn,
New York.