Eubie Blake

James Hubert Blake , known as Eubie Blake, was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and longtime collaborator Noble Sissle wrote Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans. Blakes compositions included such hits as Bandana Days, Charleston Rag, Love Will Find a Way, Memories of You and Im Just Wild About Harry. The musical Eubie, which opened on Broadway in 1978, featured his works.

Blake was born at 319 Forrest Street in Baltimore, Maryland, to former slaves John Sumner Blake and Emily Emma Johnstone . He was the only surviving child of eight, all the rest of whom died in infancy. In 1894, the family moved to 414 North Eden Street, and later to 1510 Jefferson Street. John Blake worked earning US9.00 weekly as a stevedore on the Baltimore docks.

Source: Wikipedia