W. C. Handy, known as the "Father of the Blues," was a composer and bandleader who popularized the blues through published sheet music in the early twentieth century. Born in Florence, Alabama, in 1873, Handy transformed folk blues traditions into composed works that became standards. His most famous compositions include "St. Louis Blues" (1914), one of the most recorded songs in American music history, and "Memphis Blues" (1912). Handy's compositional style introduced formal blues patterns to sheet music, making the form accessible to trained musicians while preserving its emotional character. He co-founded the Pace and Handy Music Company, becoming an influential publisher of African American composers. He died in 1958.
