|
|
Article: YOU ARE INVITED TO W.C. HANDY'S 123RD BIRTHDAY PARTY
- Article from:
- Tri-State Defender
- Article date:
- November 20, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
David Earl Jackson
Tri-State Defender
11-20-1996
YOU ARE INVITED TO W.C. HANDY'S 123RD BIRTHDAY PARTY.
In 1909 W.C. Handy's band was hired to deliver the Black vote to Memphis mayoral candidate Edward H. Crump, later known as "Boss" Crump. One of his campaign promises was to clean up the city, particularly Beale Street. Though hired to enliven Crump's campaign, Handy wrote a piece, seemingly in a fit of madness and colored contradictions, called "The Memphis Blues," which mocked Crump's plan: Mister Crump won't `low no easy riders here. Mister Crump won't `low no easy riders here. I don't care what Minister Crump don't `low. I'm gwine bar'l - house anyhow- Mister Crump can go an' catch ...