W. C. Handy

William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 - March 28, 1958) was an African American blues composer, often known as "The Father of the Blues".

Later life

Following publication of his autobiography, Handy published a subsequent book on African American musicians entitled "Unsung Americans Sing," which was published in 1944. He wrote a total of five books 1. Blues: An Anthology: Complete Words and Music of 53 Great Songs; 2. Book of Negro Spirituals; 3. Father of the Blues: An Autobiography; 4. Unsung Americans Sung; 5. Negro Authors and Composers of the United States.

Related Topics:
Autobiography - African American

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In this time period, he lived on Strivers' Row in Harlem. An accidental fall from a subway platform in 1943 resulted in his blindness. Following the death of his first wife, he remarried in 1954 at age 80 to his secretary Irma Louise Logan, who he frequently said had become his eyes.

Related Topics:
Strivers' Row - Harlem - Subway - 1943 - Blindness - 1954 - Secretary

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In 1955 he suffered a stroke and became confined to a wheelchair. Over 800 people attended his 84th birthday party at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.

Related Topics:
1955 - Stroke - Wheelchair - Waldorf=Astoria Hotel

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On March 28, 1958, W. C. Handy succumbed to acute bronchial pneumonia and died. Over 25,000 people attended his funeral in Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church. Over 150,000 people gathered in the streets near the church to pay their respects to one of the worlds greatest musicians and songwriters.

Related Topics:
Pneumonia - Abyssinian Baptist Church

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He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.

Related Topics:
Woodlawn Cemetery - Bronx, New York

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Handy had a house in Memphis, Tennessee.

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