RIP, Eubie Blake (1887?-1983)

The American composer, lyricist, and jazz pianist Eubie Blake (1887?-1983) died on February 12, 1983, in Brooklyn, New York. He was 96 years old. (He claimed that he was 100 years old, but the official government documents of his birth record his birth year as 1887.) He was interred in the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, with a head stone,engraved with the musical notation for his composition "I'm Just Wild About Harry."

Blake was known both as a composer and lyricist for many Broadway shows in the 1920s and, in his later years, as the last living link to ragtime. He and singer Noble Sisser wrote songs for "Shuffle Along," the first all-black musical, in 1921, and his song, "I'm Just Wild About Harry," was used by Harry Truman in his 1948 Presidential campaign.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the 1969 Eubie Blake album, "The 86 Years of Eubie Blake" (Columbia), which led to a revived interest in Blake's music. Unfortunately, that album is only available in vinyl, usually used from Amazon.com.

Blake's Memories of You, available from Amazon.com, may be the best alternative on CD.

Blake plays "Charleston Rag" at the age of 98 here:

Robert
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