The Roots of Jazz
“Each one of my blues is based off of some old Negro song of the south. Something that sticks in my mind, that I can hum all day”
~ W. C. Handy
W.C. Handy
The Roots of Jazz
Blues music is often attributed to providing the roots for Jazz music, however, Jazz and Blues began around the same time, have lots in common, and started in extremely similar neighborhoods. But, one did not start the other. The major difference between the two music forms is that Jazz is the combination of African and European music, while the Blues are simply hollers, chants and songs from African-American communities in the southern United States.
“Each one of my blues is based off of some old Negro song of the south. Something that sticks in my mind, that I can hum all day”
~ W. C. Handy
W.C. Handy
Handy’s Music was initially not what the people wanted. Audience members began asking for his band to play the music of their natives, but Handy was not as familiar with this. During the year of 1909, Handy began to write down all of the blues music he heard. Eventually, he would compose a piece about a corrupt boss in Memphis running for Mayor at the time named Ed Crump, leading to one of W.C.'s most famous songs-->
These lyrics helped portray troubling times for African Americans, who along with the whites, enjoyed the tune to the music and went to listen to Handy's band play during rallies against Crump.
In 1912, Handy published the lyrics as “The Memphis Blues”. Although he was not the first to ever publish the Blues, it sent him down the path where he would eventually earn the title "Father of the Blues".
Poster for another popular Jazz band in Memphis along side W.C. Handy
Blues and Jazz musician with a guitar by Barandash Karandashich