Composer W.C. Handy, the 'Father of the Blues,' is born in Florence, Alabama.
At a Glance
- Date
- 16 November 1873
- Location
- Florence, Alabama
- Key people
- W.C. Handy
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Sheet music; biographical records · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
He brought the blues into published, commercial music and the American mainstream.
What It Means Now
Handy's compositions remain cornerstones of the blues tradition.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “W.C. Handy Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). W.C. Handy Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “W.C. Handy Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.