Eubie Blake

Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
Background information
Birth name	James Hubert Blake
Born	February 7, 1887; Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	February 12, 1983 (aged 96); Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, popular, ragtime
Occupation(s)	Composer, musician
Instrument(s)	Piano
Labels	Emerson, Victor

James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983) was an American pianist and composer of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, he and his long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals written and directed by African Americans.^[1] Blake's compositions included such hits as "Bandana Days", "Charleston Rag", "Love Will Find a Way", "Memories of You" and "I'm Just Wild About Harry". The 1978 Broadway musical Eubie! showcased his works, and in 1981, President Ronald Reagan awarded Blake the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

^ Sullivan, John Jeremiah (March 24, 2016). "'Shuffle Along' and the Lost History of Black Performance in America". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2016.

[nyt2016-1] Sullivan, John Jeremiah (March 24, 2016). "'Shuffle Along' and the Lost History of Black Performance in America". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2016.

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