W.C. Handy (clip)

The cultural contribution of an outstanding black composer is traced in this portrait of William Christopher Handy, the man known as the "Father of the Blues." The story reflects the political, economic and social conditions of America during the 1890s throught the 1950s, and the unique perspective of the composer of the "St. Louis Blues" and "Beale Street Blues." His simple philosophies show how work, deterimination and talent can help one achieve his or her goals. A Vignette Films Production. 14 minutes, color.

direct link to purchase video:

http://www.phoenixlearninggroup.com/Products/VideoDetail.aspx?id=a4e7adb6-d2a...

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• handy
• african
• american
• history
• william
• christopher
• father
• of
• blues
• music
• phoenix
• learning
• group

[nazrel007]

nice

[777User]

I have a album of WC handy...... with a selection of his first recordings (some songs recorded in 1917) and i see the blues in this era is very close to jazz... strange isnt?

[lcsgze]

Oops. 1928 - 1891 = 36, not 45.

[lcsgze]

Crazy Blues is 1920.

[777User]

But ALL the first blues recordings like Crazy Blues sounds like that!

[777User]

oops sorry now i see the link.

[777User]

Where can i download the rest of this video?

[lcsgze]

To show how misinformative this clip is, the voiceover is talking about Handy at 18, in 1891, while the music is from 45 years later in the mid 1920s. In 1891 ragtime hadn't been born yet, much less blues, much less dixieland jazz with virtuoso soloists.

[lcsgze]

This relaxed jazz style didn't happen until well into the 1920s, when Handy was in his 50s and far past his prime. His milieu was minstrel bands.

[fadermaster]

Nice, I gotta get that.