Father of the Blues

As a blues lover, I must make note that today marks the birth of W.C. Handy.  Mr. Handy’s contribution to American music is what gets me through the day -- and night.

One of my most memorable experiences was watching a film clip of Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of “The Saint Louis Blues” as Mr. Handy looked on.  The audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music where the film was screened went nuts.  OK, it was a short trip but if you ever get a chance to see that performance, you’ll know why.