Eubie Blake was a most forgiving man who functioned amid horrible racism that showed its ugly face everywhere he turned. But, genius as he was and devoted to the music, he plugged right on with full knowledge that he was a professional. Eubie Blake, son of former slaves, was born in 1887 and by the time he was about 12 he was, unbeknownst to his mother, playing professional piano in a brothel. That he was in demand wherever he went did not mean the road was easy even though that road led from the brothel, to Broadway stardom and the Freedom Medal bestowed by the President of the United States. How Eubie Blake went from whorehouse to Whitehouse in his lifetime of almost 100 years is a history lesson hard to find elsewhere.
Richard Carlin, author of several books on folk, country and traditional music is here to give us some further insights into the life of Eubie Blake and the book he co-authored with Ken Bloom Eubie Blake; Rags, Rhythm and Race.
To hear Richard tell about how he came to write this book with Ken Bloom and further educate us on not just Eubie Blake but the history of Black theater of the early part of the last century is the kind of continuing education we all need. And, yes, you can see him here on his Love Letters Live Youtube episode talking about Eubie, rags, rhythm and racism. Eubie Blake, Rags, rhythm and race with a strong emphasis on all four features.