The History Behind the Song | The 'St. Louis Blues”

In this video, we explore the story behind St. Louis Blues. The timeless song by W.C. Handy that shaped the future of blues music. Handy’s six months in St. Louis were filled with hardship — he was homeless, struggling to make ends meet, and nearly defeated. But this challenging period left a lasting impression on him. After eventually making it big in Memphis, Handy returned to the memories of his St. Louis days, drawing from his difficult experiences to compose St. Louis Blues in a single night of inspiration.

St. Louis Blues went on to become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, captivating audiences around the world and securing Handy’s legacy as a pioneer of American blues. This video delves into how those early struggles in St. Louis influenced Handy’s creative process and inspired a song that would stand the test of time. Join us to uncover the story of resilience and genius behind a musical masterpiece that continues to echo through the ages. @whoelseloveshistory

#history #blues #musichistory #bluesmusic #bluesmusician

Quick Ideas for Using the Video with Students:
Activity Ideas
1. Use the video in a music class as students study music composition. Is there an event in their life they could use to inspire their own composition? Have students create a short composition related to that event.
2. Use the video as you study music history specifically or the cultural history of the United States in the early 20th century. What insights into the time period do students gain from the video?

[mikecaetano]

Cool. "St. Louis Blues" -- I'm still deciding whether my favorite recording of the song is the one of Ella Fitzgerald & Chick Webb Orchestra at the Savoy in 1939 or Chuck Berry from his 1965 album Chuck Berry in London. Dave Brubeck's version is super cool as well. And for what it's worth, there is an argument to be made that "Summertime" by George Gershwin is the most recorded song in history with over 50, 000 versions cataloged but whether they were all recorded in the 20th century the sources I consulted did not say.