Pianist and composer Eubie Blake was born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 7, 1883 and died almost exactly 100 years later on February 12, 1983. During that century Blake became an important figure in Black musical development in the 20th Century, playing ragtime, jazz, composing popular tunes and writing Broadway shows. Blake enjoyed a popular rediscovery of sorts during the ragtime revival of the 1970s.

Eubie Blake began playing pump organ at age four and by 15 he was playing piano in a brothel. In 1905 Blake moved to New York City and began looking for someone to publish his first song Sounds of Africa. Although he was initially unsuccessful in his quest, he did meet composer Will Marion Cook during the process. Years later Blake was finally able to get the song in print, but under the title The Charleston Rag.

After returning to Baltimore, Blake played regularly around town and got his tune Chevy Chase published in 1914. The following year he met Noble Sissle, the man who would become his long-time writing partner. Together they wrote the song It’s All Your Fault for the hugely popular singer Sophie Tucker. Blake and Sissle then wrote the stage show “Shuffle Along” which included the hits I’m Just Wild About Harry and Love Will Find a Way. “Shuffle Along” was the first hit Broadway show with an all-Black cast. It was so popular, in fact, that in 1921 it had three touring companies performing the musical all across the United States. Blake also wrote the shows “Swing It” and “Blackbirds.”

As the popularity of ragtime began to fade in the 1920s, Blake turned to playing jazz. He toured and performed continuously until 1946 he when he decided to take a 23 year break from the music business. Returning to the stage in 1969 at the age of 86, Blake toured the world performing and giving lectures on ragtime and early jazz music. Interest in ragtime was bolstered during the 1970s by the success of the 1973 film “The Sting” which featured a soundtrack of music written by fellow composer Scott Joplin. Blake continued to tour and make television appearances until well into his 90s. In 1979 the musical “Eubie” was produced and Blake himself made several cameo appearances during its run. Blake died in New York City five days after his 100th birthday in 1983.

Here is a link to a 1923 Eubie Blake solo performance seen and heard on an experimental film (one of the first to synchronize picture and sound):

"SWANEE RIVER"