HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Eubie Blake Defines Ragtime Piano

Birth of Jazz: Eubie Blake

Eubie Blake

Source: Black Kudos

Eubie Blake, born James Hubert Blake to possibly former slaves on 7 February 1887, was a pianist, composer and bandleader whose father was a Baltimore stevedore earning $9 a week. His mother was born in Virginia in 1861, freed by Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 22 September 1862 during the Civil War (12 April 1861 – 9 May 1865). His father had been born in 1838 in Maryland (which became a free state on 1 November 1864). Blake was a lifelong ragtime tour de force who also bridged to jazz. Multiple sources have him born in 1883 as later claimed by Blake, causing later literature, like his own album titles, to fall in more exact with 1883. But 'The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake', for example, would be more accurate as 'The Eighty-Two Years of Eubie Blake' if to go by social security records, his WW I draft card, his passport and his death certificate. Beyond false memory it isn't known, at least by me, why Blake believed he was born in 1883.

Blake began his life in music at age five or six at a $75 pump organ purchased for him by his parents on an installment plan at 25 cents per week. Following music lessons begun at age seven, his first employment was at age fifteen at a Baltimore bordello. Though he came up with his 'Charleston Rag' in 1899 he didn't transcribe it until 1915. In early July of 1901 he performed on a Melodeon organ strapped to the back of a wagon for a couple of weeks in Dr. Frazier's Medicine Show, quitting because Sunday dinners were against the religion of the Quaker doctor who was Frazier. From 1907 to 1914 Blake performed at the Goldfield Hotel, a black and tan club in Baltimore owned by boxer, Joe Gans. In 1912 Blake began working with James Reese Europe. His composition with Carey Morgan, 'Bugle Call Rag', was recorded by the Victor Military Band on 2 February of 1916 toward release on Victor 35533.

Blake first recorded with Noble Sissle for Pathe (20210) about April of 1917: 'Mammy's Little Choc'late Cullud Chile'. With music by Blake and lyrics by Sissle, this pair would team up on numerous compositions in the coming years. Eleven more tracks with Sissle followed to August, the same month Blake made his first recordings as a leader, also for Pathe: 'Sarah from Sahara', 'Hungarian Rag', and 'American Jubilee'. Tom Lord lists possible members of Blake's Trio in that session as Elliott Carpenter (piano), Broadway Jones (drums) or Buddy Gillmore (drums). Blake released his first piano roll for Ampico in November 1917: 'Charleston Rag'. Briefly after World War I (July 1914 - November 1918) Blake formed a partnership with Sissle called the Dixie Duo. On February 11 of 1922 Blake led 'Cutie' and 'Jimmy' with Sissle in the band at violin (Emerson 10519). Blake began working in film (short Phonofilms ) in 1922, to premiere in 1923. Blake and Sissle remained a team into 1927. Their partnership of a good ten years is exemplary of ragtime during the Roaring Twenties. They would release titles together in the fifties and sixties as well.

'Hungarian Rag' Eubie Blake Trio

Recorded Aug 1917 in New York toward Pathe 20326

Piano: Blake / Possibly Elliott Carpenter Drums: Buddy Gillmore or Broadway Jones

Music: Julius Lenzberg 1913 Based on 'Hungarian Rhapsody No.2' by Franz Liszt [Ted Tjaden]

'Charleston Rag' First piano roll by Eubie Blake Issued Nov 1917

Composition: Blake

'Bandana Days' Eubie Blake & His Shuffle Along Orchestra

Recorded 15 July 1921 in NYC toward Victor 18791

Blake's only charting title at #8 Nov 1921

Music: Blake

'Affectionate Dan' Eubie Blake w Noble Sissle Short Phonofilm produced 1922

Included in 'Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake Sing Snappy Songs'

Premiere: Rivoli Theater in NYC 15 April 1923

Music: Blake Lyrics: Noble Sissle

'Downhearted Blues' Eubie Blake w Noble Sissle

Recorded 25 May 1923 in Camden NJ toward Victor 19086-A

Composition: Lovie Austin / Alberta Hunter

'Manda' Eubie Blake w Noble Sissle

Recorded 22 Oct 1924 in New York toward Victor 19494

Music: Blake Lyrics: Noble Sissle

Based on the Broadway comedy musical 'The Chocolate Dandies' w book by Sissle

'Ukulele Lullaby' Eubie Blake w Noble Sissle

Recorded 17 Aug 1926 in NYC toward Victor 19494

Issued on the LP 'Early Rare Recordings Volume 1' EBM 7 1974

Composition: Gene Williams / Ray Morelle

After years with Sissle, Blake formed his Eubie Blake Orchestra. His first issue as such may have been in March of 1931 for Crown Records: 'Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone', 'I'm No Account Anymore', 'When Your Lover Has Gone' and 'It Looks Like Love' [Lord]. During World War II Blake worked with the USO. He earned a degree in the latter forties from New York University where he studied the mathematical method of the Schillinger System of musical composition. He founded his own record label, Eubie Blake Music (EBM), in 1971, issuing 'Eubie Blake: Volume 1' on EBM 1. Some ten of thirteen titles on 'Rags to Classics' on EBM 2 were authored by Blake.