| Home | Recorder Music | Composers B | Eubie Blake (1883-1983) |
Quoting from the Arcadian Press sheet notes: "Blake, born to former slaves in Baltimore on February 7, 1883, was baptised James Hubert Blake. Relatives and friends called him Hubie which was abbreviated to Eubie. He grew up in an atmosphere of syncopated music and sentimental ballads played on music boxes and had some piano lessons from a friendly church organist in Baltimore.
At the age of 15, Blake got a regular job as a pianist in a "hook-shop" (a sporting house) run by Aggie Sheldon, a successful madam, which provided him with tips from both the inmates and their customers. He improvised rag music (his long fingers could stretch to twelve keys on the keyboard) and soon began to compose in earnest. In 1899 he wrote his "Charleston Rag" which became a hit. His brilliant playing was soon recognised and having won a national piano-playing contest, he toured vaudeville for many years. Blake played in Jim Reese Europe's Society Orchestra (which became the 369th Infantry band in France during WW 1) which did much to put early jazz and the work of black composers before the general public. Later, in 1919, Blake and Noble Sissle (who was also a member of Europe's band) appeared together on the vaudeville circuit as singers and dancers billed as "The Dixie Duo". Together, by bringing from Harlem to Broadway an all-black musical, "Shuffle Along" (which opened on May 23, 1921 billed as "a musical melánge"), they broke the tradition of black-face white comedians and started a vogue of the 1920's. The score included the song I'm Just Wild About Harry (1921) which became a hit and was actually used as a campaign song for Harry Truman in 1948. Another Blake hit song was " Memories of You", from the musical "Blackbirds of 1930". Blake wrote songs for the musical "Elsie" (1923); the revue "Chocolate Dandies" (1924); "Folies Bergére" (1930); "Shuffle along of 1933"; "Swing It" (1937) and "Shuffle Along of 1952". His ragtime compositions included "Tricky Fingers" (1908); "Troublesome Ivories" (1911); "Chevy Chase" (1914); "Fizz Water" (1914); "Black Keys on Parade" (1935) and "Dicty's on Seventh Avenue" (1952).
The ragtime revival brought Blake out of his retirement in his eighties. In 1969 he recorded the album "The 86 Years of Eubie Blake" and, in 1972, formed his own record company. As Blake's centennial approached there was a growing appreciation of his natural talent and, in tribute to his 75 years in show business, a Broadway musical billed simply "Eubie!" was produced with resounding success. In 1981 he received the Medal of Freedom from President Reagan. He made his last public appearance, at the age of 99, at Lincoln Center in NY on June 19, 1982. Interviewed on his 100th birthday Blake made the classic remark, having confessed that he drank, smoked and liked women: "if I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself." Eubie Blake died on February 12, 1983, 5 days after his 100th birthday."
List of Eubie Blake's works.
Sheet Music:
Ragtime Music CDs:
Classics in the Park by John Arpin
Kings of Ragtime by John Arpin
Ragtime Revelry by Black Swan Classic Jazz Band
Geraldine by Mimi Blais
Once Upon a Rag Time by Mimi Blais
Ragtime by Mimi Blais
Sunday Morning by Mimi Blais
Taxi! by Mimi Blais
Golden Reunion in Ragtime: Vinyl LP: by Eubie Blake
Memories of You by Eubie Blake
That's Ragtime! by Eubie Blake
Tricky Fingers by Eubie Blake
Let's Do It: Bolcom & Morris at Aspen by William Bolcom
Le Ragtime by Claude Bolling
Reunion in Ragtime by Bob Darch
Voodoo Queen: Piano Rags, Jazz and Blues by Matthew Davidson
Rhapsody in Ragtime by Richard Dowling
World's Greatest Piano Rags by Richard Dowling
The Rag's the Thing by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards
A Ragtime Sampler by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards
Rapid Fire Ragtime by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards
Rhapsodies in Ragtime by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards
Whipped Cream Rag by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards
Silks & Rags by The Great American Main St. Band
Kitten on the Keys: Ragtime, Novelty & Stride Classics by Frederick Hodges
Carolina Shout by James P. Johnson
Harlem Stride Piano by James P. Johnson
Harlem Stride Piano 1921-1929 by James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson 1921-28 by James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson 1938-42 by James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson 1944-45 by James P. Johnson
Riverboat Ragtime: Then and Now by Jazzou Jones
Rag Time Sue by Sue Keller
Ragtime Reflections by Sue Keller
Centennial Sampler: Vol. 1 by Scott Kirby
Grace & Beauty: Ragtime Classics by Scott Kirby
More Damn Good Ragtime by Scott Kirby
Some Assembly Required by Scott Kirby
Syncopated Sensations by Noel Lester
A Century of Ragtime 1897-1997 by Various Artists
Gold Collection by Various Artists
The Greatest Jazz, Blues and Ragtime of the Century by Various Artists
The Greatest Ragtime of the Century by Various Artists
Hot Flashes: Rare High Quality Short Lived Bands by Various Artists
Jazz Piano Masters by Various Artists
Kings of Ragtime by Various Artists
Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry 1891-1922 by Various Artists
Ragtime 1900-1930 by Various Artists
Ragtime to Jazz: Vol. 2: 1916-1922 by Various Artists
Rhapsody in Blue by Various Artists
Rhapsody in Ragtime by Various Artists
Scott Joplin and the Age of Ragtime by Various Artists
Living a Ragtime Life by Max Morath
The World of Scott Joplin Vol. 2 by Max Morath
Spontaneous Ragtime by Peter Muir
The Art of the Rag by New England Ragtime Ensemble
Creole Belles by New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra
1995 U.S Tour in New Orleans by Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra
Echoes from the Snowball Club by Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra
That Demon Rag! by Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Chestnut St. in the 90s by Adam Swanson
The Butch Thompson Trio Plays Favorites by Butch Thompson
Good Old New York 88's by Butch Thompson
The Neglected Professor by Charles Thompson
The Tichenor Family Trio by Trebor Jay Tichenor
Virginia's Favorites by Trebor Jay Tichenor
Ragtime Classics Vol. 1 by Terry Waldo
The Heroes of Parlor Town - Volume 1 by Brent Watkins
The Heroes of Parlor Town - Volume 2 by Brent Watkins
Brass Music CDs:
Magnetic Rags: Ragtime for Brass by Avatar Brass Quintet
Braggin' in Brass by Empire Brass