Eubie Blake , born to former slaves, enjoyed a long career as pianist/composer, vaudevillian, and writer of successful Broadway shows. He was a natural talent who was surrounded by music as a child and received some early piano training. But at the age of 63, after a distinguished career, he studied composition and received his degree from NYU.

Ragtime was in its heyday after the turn of the century and had a considerable white audience. Blake brought a new sophistication to the art form and published several rags, although his most famous, “Charleston Rag,” written in 1899, wasn’t published until 1919.

He formed a partnership with vocalist/lyricist Noble Sissle 1915, and they performed on vaudeville as the “Dixie Duo.” Their first song, ...