He's sweet just like choc'late candy KIMBALL: Eubie felt that this was the way it should be, and he said it was very difficult for black artists to write in styles that are associated with the white culture, the high culture. Print instantly, or sync to our free PC, web and mobile apps. It would be criminal to deprive him of the chance to make use of such a sublime, God-given talent." Cannot do without [8] At age 15, without his parents' knowledge, he began playing piano at Aggie Shelton's Baltimore bordello. His parents had both been slaves. Shuffle Along yielded Sissle and Blake’s best-known song, “ I’m Just Wild About Harry,” as well as the romantic ballad “Love Will Find a Way,” the performance of which was revolutionary in that it allowed African Americans to express feelings of love on the American … Combination March - Scott Joplin - 1896 14. While out shopping with his mother, he wandered into a music store, climbed on the bench of an organ, and started "foolin’ around". [9] Blake played at the Goldfield during the winters from 1907-1914, spending his summers playing clubs in Atlantic City. Shake Yo' Dusters, or Piccaninny Rag - William Henry Krell - 1898 17. The Cake Walk in the Sky - Ben Harney - 1899 13. In the show, Jessie Williams finds a cause in Harry Walton, a virtuous man who aims to topple the crooked mayor of his city by running for office. Fill me with ecstasy Blake’s most famous song and biggest commercial hit was this song written for the 1921 Broadway musical Shuffle Along. [citation needed] John Blake was a stevedore on the Baltimore Docks. It’s a song and dance revue of Blake’s most famous songs, and … (Verse) Blake was a frequent guest of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin. In July 1910, Blake married Avis Elizabeth Cecelia Lee, proposing to her in a chauffeur-driven car he hired. One of the most enduring ragtime pianists was Eubie Blake, who took that music well into the 1980’s. Eubie Blake Feb. 7, 1883 - Feb. 12, 1983 James Hubert "Eubie" Blake was born in Baltimore on Feb. 7, 1883. On October 9, 1981, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Ronald Reagan. James Hubert Blake (February 7, 1887[1] – February 12, 1983), known as Eubie Blake, was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. [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". In 1946, Blake retired from performing and enrolled in New York University, where he studied the Schillinger System of music composition, graduating in two and a half years. Over the last decade, Eubie Blake's birthdays had become public celebrations. By kindness of fate [10], According to Blake, he also worked the medicine show circuit and was employed by a Quaker doctor. "[8], While serving as bandleader with the USO during World War II, he met Marion Grant Tyler, the widow of the violinist Willy Tyler. In Eubie Blake's words, 'It wasn't Broadway but we made it Broadway.' Semper Fidelis Blake continued to play and record until his death, on February 12, 1983, in Brooklyn, five days after events celebrating his purported 100th birthday[21] (which was actually his 96th birthday). A photograph of the cover for the sheet music for the song "I'm Just Wild About Harry," the most popular song from the musical comedy Shuffle Along. (Verse 2) I'm just wild about Harry And Harry's wild about me The heavenly blisses Of his kisses Fills me with ecstasy [16] That same year he and his orchestra provided as well most of the music for the film Harlem Is Heaven.[17]. With Noble Sissle he wrote Shuffle Along, one of the earliest Broadway musicals written and directed by African-Americans. Listen to Eubie Blake live at Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, CA) on Sep 22, 1974 Fill me with ecstacy It was at the center of American popular music from the end of the nineteenth century until the 1920s. Blake got his first big break in the music business in 1907, when the world champion boxer Joe Gans hired him to play the piano at Gans's Goldfield Hotel, the first "black and tan club" in Baltimore. Blake was a composer, lyricist and performer who broke down racial barriers on the Broadway stage in the 1910s and '20s. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans. Eubie Blake and His Orchestra Eubie Blake & His Orchestra Real name James Hubert Blake Born February 7, 1887 Died February 12, 1983 Country United States IPI 00003303059 Comments Popular, ragtime and jazz pianist. The band played ragtime music, which was still quite popular. [19][20] By 1975, he had been awarded honorary doctorates from Rutgers, the New England Conservatory, the University of Maryland, Morgan State University, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn College, and Dartmouth. James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983) was an American pianist, lyricist, and composer of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. Eubie Blake (1887-1983, born James Hubert Blake in Baltimore, Maryland) worked closely with musician Noble Sissle throughout his career.Together they helped create the Broadway show Shuffle Along (1921), whose cast included Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson. The original inscription indicated his correct year of birth, but individuals close to him insisted that Blake be indulged and paid to have the inscription changed. She was a performer and a businesswoman and became his valued business manager until her death in 1982. That's what I claim Blake, Eubie (James Hubert Blake), 1883–1983, African-American pianist and composer, b. Baltimore. I'm his Ideal And just like honey from a bee And Harry's wild about me In 1910, Blake brought his newlywed to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he had already found employment at the Boathouse nightclub. " "I'm Just Wild About Harry" was the most popular number of the show. Most Popular Movies and TV Shows With Eubie Blake Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. With cruel lamps “Memories of You” was composed by pianist Eubie Blake and lyricist Andy Razaf in 1930 for Lew Leslie’s Broadway show Blackbirds of 1930.Vocalist Minto Cato sang it on the show: “I wrote that song in an octave and a fifth,” said Blake, “to show off a girl’s voice, Minto Cato. I'm just wild about Harry [2], Blake claimed in later life to have been born in 1883, but records published beginning in 2003—U.S. However, he recorded an album in 1969 that renewed his popularity. Census, military, and Social Security records and Blake's passport application and passport—uniformly give his birth year as 1887. It gained new popularity in 1948, when President Harry Truman used it as the official song of his successful re-election campaign. During this period, he also studied composition in Baltimore with Llewellyn Wilson. The show was filmed in 1981 with the original cast members, including Lesley Dockery, Gregory Hines and Maurice Hines. (Chorus) All. With the songwriter Noble Sissle he produced early African-American Broadway musicals, e.g., Shuffle Along (1921). ... Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake Sing Snappy Songs (1923) All Filmography. Community. But my Harry says Conductors, such as Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Fiedler US $ 75.00, making payments 25! Also worked the medicine show circuit and was employed by a Quaker doctor period, he also worked medicine! Brought his newlywed to Atlantic City at Aggie Shelton 's Baltimore bordello Yo ' Dusters, or to... 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