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About the Album: Prior to 1912, there had only been a handful of compositions with "blues" in the title. Songs like "The Richmond Blues" were actually marches and 'blue' was merely the color of a uniform. The first so-called 'blues' was "Baby Seals Blues," which appeared in St.Louis on August 3, 1912. The next, "Dallas Blues," was published in Oklahoma City on September 6, 1912. The third published blues song was Handy's "Memphis Blues," published in Memphis on September 28, 1912. After W.C.Handy's publication of the "St.Louis Blues" in 1914, the whole world wend 'blues crazy.' The era of "Tin Pan Alley Blues" was born. New York City's Tin Pan Alley was the center for hundreds of publishing companies and songwriters looking to jump on the blues bandwagon. Just about every composer of the day, including W.C.Handy, Irving Berlin, Clarence Williams and George Gershwin, was looking for the next 'blues hit.' Over the next year, almost every town in the South was endowed with its ow! n private blues. By 1915, composers were tagging the word 'blues' to every conceivable subject, from the "Boll Weevil Blues" to "Chinese Blues" and everything in between. The first wave of the blues was born.
Label: Memphis Archives
CHESS Is Getting a New Broadway Cast Recording
by Nicole Rosky
- January 22, 2026
xProducers Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens and The Shubert Organization along with Creative Partners Productions have just announced that Chess will record a Broadway cast album on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Video: Marc Shaiman Is Telling Showbiz Stories in His New Book
by Robert Bannon
- January 23, 2026
In this video, legendary composer Marc Shaiman sits down with Robert Bannon to celebrate his brand-new book Never Mind the Happy—a hilarious, heartfelt, and no-holds-barred look at a life in music, collaboration, and controlled chaos.
Andrew Keenan-Bolger to Release Debut YA Novel LIMELIGHT
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- January 14, 2026
Author and Broadway star Andrew Keenan-Bolger is making YA debut with Limelight, a poignant coming-of-age novel about identity, first love, and the power of the arts to help young people feel seen.
20 Theater Books for Your Winter 2026 Reading List
by Nicole Rosky
- January 10, 2026
The weather outside might be frightful for a while, but what better time to stay in and snuggle up with a great Broadway read? This season, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind.
Listen: WICKED: FOR GOOD Sing-Along Soundtrack Now Available
by Josh Sharpe
- December 19, 2025
A new sing-along karaoke edition of the Wicked: For Good soundtrack has been released, allowing fans to belt out their favorite tunes, including 'No Good Deed,' 'As Long As You're Mine,' 'For Good,' and more.
Julie Benko to Release New Album EUPHONIC GUMBO in February
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- December 18, 2025
Julie Benko - the singer and actor who rose to national prominence in Broadway's Funny Girl - will release Euphonic Gumbo, a vibrant new album steeped in the musical and cultural histories of New Orleans.
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