Search - W.C. Handy Preservation Band :: W.C. Handy's Beale Street--Where The Blues Began

Known as the "Father of the Blues," W.C. Handy was America's most successful African-American composer during the early 20th Century. His "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues" were among the most popular songs of the day and secured his place in music history. "St. Louis Blues" was the most recorded song in America between 1914 and 1928. While Handy only recorded a handful of his own compositions, this CD recreates Handy's Memphis Blues Band the way it sounded around 1920 and is the first comprehensive recording produced specifically as a tribute to one of America's most important composers. The instrumentation is identical to that of Handy's--trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, violin, banjo, piano and tuba. Recorded in Memphis (1999-2000) and produced by Carl Wolfe, the audio quality is pristine and captures the exuberance of the era. All 21 tracks are instrumentals. This CD is indispensable for any jazz or blues enthusiast.