Pianist James Hubert ‘Eubie’ Blake was born in Baltimore in 1883. He began playing and developing his own rag-time style playing in the local bordellos. By the turn of the century, he was writing music and touring professionally with Dr. Frazier’s Traveling Medicine Show throughout small towns in Pennsylvania. During the ‘teens he took up residence in Atlantic City where he played many clubs. In the ‘20s he teamed with Noble Sissle, as Sissle & Blake they were known as the Dixie Duo.
Blake was instrumental in helping to popularize jazz music – taking it to Broadway where many of his ragtime compositions were featured. Eventually he moved to Brooklyn New York, while continuing to make occasional visits to his hometown.
Baltimore born vocalist Jesse Cryor (ex-Drake & Walker Revue in 1920’s) sang with Noble & Blake in the mid’40s before traveling to L.A. and releasing sides on the G&G, and Enterprise labels. Cryor later moved to Chicago and in 1951 released a 78 as Cryin’ Jesse on the Premium label (PR-871) “And She Cried” b/w “Feel Goody Goody.”
In 1971 Blake received the Award of Merit for Outstanding Citizenship from Baltimore Mayor Donald Shaefer.
A 1972 performance at the New School for Music Research in New York City was released in 1977 “Jazz Piano Masters” (Chiarascuro 170) and also features recordings by Claude Hopkins, Dill Jones, and Teddy Wilson.
Blake’s most famous hits included “Memories of You” (1908 – still considered one of the great pop tunes of all time), “Baltimore Todolo” and “I’m Just Wild About Harry” (1928) which was later adapted as the theme for Harry Truman’s Presidential campaign.
Eubie continued performing into the 1980s helped by a resurgence in ragtime jazz interest in the late ‘60s-70s. He passed away on February 12, 1983. Album releases include reissues of his earlier work.
19** EBM 1 Song Hits – Vol. 1 Featuring Ivan Harold Browning
19** EBM 4 Early Rare Recordings Vol. 1 (Sissle & Blake)
19** EBM 7 Early Rare Recordings Vol. 2 (Sissle & Blake)
19** EBM 9 Song Hits
19** Columbia C2S 847 The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake
1977 Chiarscuro 170 Jazz Piano Masters
