James Reese Europe

Happy Birthday, James Reese Europe 1881-1919...Eubie Blake said of Reese, "He was our benefactor and inspiration. Even more, he was the Martin Luther King of music." Reese earned his praise by being a tireless innovator, not only in his compositions and orchestrations but in his organizational ability and leadership.

Europe got his start in New York in 1904 working as a pianist, quickly making connections in the thriving scene of black theater music. composing and directing for several productions. In 1910 he formed the Clef Club, an organization of over 200 men with it's own orchestra and chorus that also functioned as a union and contracting agency for black musicians. On May 2, 1912, the Clef Club put on an historic "A Concert of Negro Music" in Carnegie Hall to tremendous success. The 125 man orchestra, which included banjos and mandolins, played music solely composed by African-Americans and was the first proto-jazz band to play Carnegie Hall. Reese stood firm to his few critics saying,"We have developed a kind of symphony music that, no matter what else you think, is different and distinctive, and lends itself to the playing of the peculiar compositions of our race. We colored people have our own music that is part of us. It is the product of our souls; it's been created by the sufferings and miseries of our race."

In 1914, with his new Society Orchestra, Reese formed an association with Vernon and Irene Castle, introducing the turkey-trot and fox-trot to American audiences, gaining him national recognition. He also made several recordings for the Victor Record Company at that time including "Castle House Rag" which is included in the National Registry of Recordings.

When WW1 became a reality for Americans, Reese signed up and was commissioned to put together the best band he could muster for the 369th Regiment; the highly acclaimed Harlem Hellfighters, which would take France by storm, traveling over 2,000 miles showcasing it's brilliant and original music to American, British and French troupes and civilians. This would be the first exposure for a European audience to ragtime music and created a huge demand.

Americans took note of Europe's success oversees and he was welcomed home in 1919 as a hero after the war. He became even more determined that, "Negroes should write Negro music. We have our own racial feelings and if we try to copy whites we will make bad copies." He immediately embarked on a tour with his Hellfighters, playing in New York to rave reviews, then moving on to Boston where during intermission, he was stabbed in the neck with a pen knife by one of his drummers in an argument, dying later that night. His tremendous impact on American music was cut short but set the stage for all black musicians and organizers who would come after him.