Quoting from the Arcadian Press sheet notes: "Blake, born to former slaves in Baltimore on February 7, 1883, was baptised James Hubert Blake. Relatives and friends called him Hubie which was abbreviated to Eubie. He grew up in an atmosphere of syncopated music and sentimental ballads played on music boxes and had some piano lessons from a friendly church organist in Baltimore.
At the age of 15, Blake got a regular job as a pianist in a "hook-shop" (a sporting house) run by Aggie Sheldon, a successful madam, which provided him with tips from both the inmates and their customers. He improvised rag music (his long fingers could stretch to twelve keys on the keyboard) and soon began to compose in earnest. In 1899 he wrote his "Charleston Rag" which became a hit. His brilliant playing was soon recognised and having won a national piano-playing contest, he toured vaudeville for many years. Blake played in Jim Reese Europe's Society Orchestra (which became the 369th Infantry band in France during WW 1) which did much to put early jazz and the work of black composers before the general public. Later, in 1919, Blake and Noble Sissle (who was also a member of Europe's band) appeared together on the vaudeville circuit as singers and dancers billed as "The Dixie Duo". Together, by bringing from Harlem to Broadway an all-black musical, "Shuffle Along" (which opened on May 23, 1921 billed as "a musical melánge"), they broke the tradition of black-face white comedians and started a vogue of the 1920's. The score included the song I'm Just Wild About Harry (1921) which became a hit and was actually used as a campaign song for Harry Truman in 1948. Another Blake hit song was " Memories of You", from the musical "Blackbirds of 1930". Blake wrote songs for the musical "Elsie" (1923); the revue "Chocolate Dandies" (1924); "Folies Bergére" (1930); "Shuffle along of 1933"; "Swing It" (1937) and "Shuffle Along of 1952". His ragtime compositions included "Tricky Fingers" (1908); "Troublesome Ivories" (1911); "Chevy Chase" (1914); "Fizz Water" (1914); "Black Keys on Parade" (1935) and "Dicty's on Seventh Avenue" (1952).
The ragtime revival brought Blake out of his retirement in his eighties. In 1969 he recorded the album "The 86 Years of Eubie Blake" and, in 1972, formed his own record company. As Blake's centennial approached there was a growing appreciation of his natural talent and, in tribute to his 75 years in show business, a Broadway musical billed simply "Eubie!" was produced with resounding success. In 1981 he received the Medal of Freedom from President Reagan. He made his last public appearance, at the age of 99, at Lincoln Center in NY on June 19, 1982. Interviewed on his 100th birthday Blake made the classic remark, having confessed that he drank, smoked and liked women: "if I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself." Eubie Blake died on February 12, 1983, 5 days after his 100th birthday."

Websites:
	Eubie Blake	Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards