Lot 737

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Description:

WILLIAM C. HANDY
(1873-1958) American musician and composer considered "Father of the Blues", composer of "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues". (1873-1958) American musician and composer considered "Father of the Blues", composer of "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues". Fine content T.L.S. on Handy Brothers Music Co. letterhead, 3pp. 4to., New York, Jan. 19, 1948 to a friend. Handy reminisces about his past, in part: "...Thirty years ago...Columbia...had employed Handy and his twelve piece band to come to New York to record twelve numbers: the first time anything like this had happened with any Negro organization...The great Negro bandmaster, Lieut. James Reese Europe...had recorded 'THE MEMPHIS BLUES'...[and] carried Handy's music with the immortal 369th Infantry Band to Europe...We located our business in the Gaiety Theatre, the first Negroes to go in business on Broadway...advancing the cause of the Negro in many ways...Fletcher Henderson...went to work in our Professional Department...he had finally built one of the greatest dance bands in America...William Grant Still...head of our Arranging Department...is now one of the greatest writers of symphonies...". Handy also mentions the spin-off Black Swan Records which would record Florence Cole-Talbert, Ethel Waters, and test Bessie Smith. He continues, listing several books and biographies, and his affiliations with ASCAP, MPPA, and the ASC. He concludes with a pitch of his latest publications and a quote from and ASCAP leader: "...music will prove to be the single greatest contributing factor to world peace...". Fine. Sold with Handy's printed 1941 Christmas card, 1p. 4to., friendly, semi-autobiographical greeting, with a May 17, 1969 first day cancel of a stamp honoring Handy.

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January 31, 2013 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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