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1881 - James Reese Europe, born on the 22nd of February in Mobile, Alabama, U.S. He was an American bandleader, arranger, composer, a major figure in the transition from ragtime to jazz.
1904 - Studied piano and violin in his youth and about settled in New York City.
1910 - He directed musical comedies and helped organize the Clef Club, a union of African-American musicians.
- The 125-member Clef Club orchestra that he conducted at Carnegie Hall featured an extraordinary instrumentation, including 47 mandolins and bandores and 27 harp-guitars.
1913 - His Society Orchestra was probably the first African-American band to record, when it offered fast versions of ragtime works, typically in 2/4 metre, with urgent rhythmic momentum.
- His band also regularly accompanied the popular white dance team of Irene and Vernon Castle, who popularized the fox-trot and a dance in 5/4 metre, to scores by Europe and his collaborator, Ford Dabney.
1919 - Died in Boston, Massachusetts on the 10th of May.
  | Page last updated: 12:26pm, 10th May '07 |
Related Books
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A Life in Ragtime: A Biography of James Reese Europe by Reid Badger (Hardcover - Jan 12, 1995) In 1919, the world stood at the threshold of the Jazz Age. The man who had ushered it there, however, lay murdered--and would soon plunge from international fame to historical obscurity. It was a...  Usually ships in 24 hours |
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Likin' ain't like Lovin'. [Song.] Words&music by J. R. Europe,etc by James Reese Europe (Unknown Binding - Sep 8, 2008) |
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Nubiana. A Nubian love song without words. [P. F.] by James Reese Europe (Unknown Binding - Sep 8, 2008) |
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Obadiah,etc. [Song.] by James Reese Europe (Unknown Binding - Sep 8, 2008) |
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On the gay Luneta. Lyric by Bob Cole. [Song. From Cole and Johnson's musical play, " The Shoo-fly Regiment " .] by James Reese Europe (Unknown Binding - Sep 8, 2008) |
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A Royal Coon. [Song.] Words by Jolly John Larkins by James Reese Europe (Unknown Binding - Sep 8, 2008) |
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