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James Hubert Blake was born in
Baltimore, Maryland on February 7, 1883. His parents, John and Emily
Black were both former slaves. Eubie started taking Organ lessons at
the age of six and by the time he was sixteen he was playing
professionally in Baltimore saloons and bordellos. He wrote Charleston
Rag in 1899.
Eubie moved to Atlantic City and met
singer Noble Sissle in 1915. Eubie and Noble teamed together as a
vaudeville act called the Dixie Duo. The team also wrote
musicals for the stage. They wrote the first all Black musical, Shuffle
Along, which became a major hit. They also wrote Revue
Negre, Plantation Review, and Rhapsody in
Black. Eubie continued to write songs during this period and
produced several hits during the twenties including I'm just
crazy about Harry, and Memories of You.
Eubie, Noble and Lew Payton teamed
together in 1924 and wrote the smash hit, The Chocolate Dandies.
In 1925 Eubie and Noble hit the vaudeville circuit again in the U.S.
and in Europe. Eubie returned to the U.S. in 1927, but Noble remained
in Europe.
Eubie toured USO shows with his band
during World War II. He began studying formal music composition in
1946 earning a degree from New York University. Although largely
inactive during the fifties, Eubie made a few appearances in Ragtime
Revivals.
Eubie remained a forgotten unknown
until 1969, when at the age of 86, he recorded a double album called The
Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake. Eubie's popularity soared and
he was much in demand at Jazz festivals and concerts. Eubie also
lectured at colleges across the country. He formed his own recording
company in 1972. Eubie was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1981.
Eubie continued to perform until he was
98 years old. He died on February 12, 1983 at the age of One Hundred
(and 5 days) in New York City.
Sources:
Encyclopedia
Britannica
Encyclopedia
Africana
Atlanta
Music Group (AMG)
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