W.C. Handy publishes 'Memphis Blues,' among the first blues compositions to appear in print.
At a Glance
- Date
- 27 September 1912
- Location
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Key people
- W.C. Handy
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Sheet music (1912) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It helped bring the blues from folk tradition into published, commercial music.
What It Means Now
Handy became known as the 'Father of the Blues.'
Cite this page
- MLA
- “W.C. Handy Publishes 'Memphis Blues'.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-publishes-memphis-blues/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). W.C. Handy Publishes 'Memphis Blues'. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-publishes-memphis-blues/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “W.C. Handy Publishes 'Memphis Blues'.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/wc-handy-publishes-memphis-blues/.
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.