W.C. Handy

Description

W.C. Handy was a prominent African American composer and musician known as the “Father of the Blues.” He was born on November 16, 1873, in Florence, Alabama, and passed away on March 28, 1958, in New York City.

In 1994, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in honor of W.C. Handy’s contributions to American music. The stamp features a portrait of Handy against a colorful background that evokes the spirit of the blues.

Handy is best known for popularizing the blues as a musical genre and for his role in bringing African American music to mainstream audiences. He wrote many popular songs, including “St. Louis Blues,” “Memphis Blues,” and “Beale Street Blues,” and he helped to launch the careers of other notable musicians such as Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters.

Handy was also a civil rights activist and worked to promote equality for African Americans in the music industry. He founded the Musician’s Protective Union to advocate for better working conditions and fair pay for musicians, and he helped to establish the Handy Brothers Music Company to publish and promote African American music.

The issuance of the W.C. Handy stamp was a significant recognition of his contributions to American music and culture. The stamp helped to raise awareness of Handy’s life and work, and it served as a tribute to the enduring legacy of the blues as a uniquely American art form. Today, the W.C. Handy stamp is a collector’s item and a reminder of the important role that African American musicians have played in shaping American music and culture.