Who wrote the first blues song?
The history is cloudy and there are conflicting claims. The first blues songs, at least in embryonic form, may have occurred as far back as 1860 in the plantation fields, but the first documented blues song is generally credited to William Christopher Handy (1873-1958), with “Memphis Blues” published on paper in 1912. According to some, Handy was duped into thinking the song was worthless and consequently sold the copyright for (some say) as little as $50. Popular legend has it that in 1903 at a Mississippi train station Handy heard a wandering musician picking his guitar with a knife blade and singing “Goin’ where the Southern cross the Yellow Dog” (two railroad lines). According to legend, this unexpected, unique song and style is what awakened Handy to the existence of blues music – and was also the inspiration for “Yellow Dog Blues”, published in 1914. Today, Handy is remembered by the annual “W. C. Handy Awards”, sometimes called the “Blues Grammy”, which honors blues artists. Mam
