W.C. Handy

William Christopher Handy was an African American composer and a leader in popularizing blues music in the early 20th century.

Handy’s contributions to shaping what would be called the blues were influenced by the African American folk traditions he experienced during his travels and performances. After years on the road, Handy settled in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1903, where he immersed himself in the local variation of the blues.

After a move to Memphis, Handy wrote and published the first commercially successful blues song, “Memphis Blues,” in 1912, followed by his most famous composition, “The St. Louis Blues,” in 1914. He worked steadily in the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, promoting the blues, composing dozens of songs, and authoring an autobiography.

He is often referred to as the Father of the Blues. His legacy lives on through the annual W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama.