Spotlight on James Reese Europe An African American Musical Giant

Although his last name was clearly European, James Reese Europe left an undeniable mark on the American and Global music scene, leaving most composers gasping for notes. Born(1881) in the Jim Crow heartland of Mobile, Alabama, he grew up in Washington D.C.

And the music he created was in his own words Black Music and meant to be enjoyed by all races, creeds and colors. He was a multi-instrumentalists extrodinaire, who delved in Ragtime and Jazz or a combination of both. After moving to New York City in 1904 he was a driving force in Black Theater Music playing piano and writing the hit song ‘Gay Luneta’ for the Cole and Johson’s Shoe-Fly Regiment in 1906. The following year he composed music for The Black Politician. In 1908 followed that up as the musical director for Cole and Johnson’s The Red Mood, contributing two songs in 1908.

In 1910 Mr. Europe continued his upward swing by forming the Clef Club, serving as a union and contracting agency for Black Musicians. The Clef Club possessed a world class orchestra and chorus, performing in renowned Carnegie Hall for “A Concert of Negro Music” on May 2, 1912. The concert was a tremendous success as Europe wowed the crowd with a 125-man orchestra including a generous supply of banjos and mandolins, displaying the music of Black musicians exclusively.

In 1914 he teamed up with the dancing duo of Vernon and Irene Castles. Europe invented along with the Castles, the Fox Trot and the Turkey Trot, dances that were extremely popular back then. That same year he recorded several offerings for Victor Record Company, one of the sides “The Castles in Europe one-Step” (Castle Hop Rag) was named to the 2004 National Registry of Recordings.

Hubie Jones

hubiejones.com

SOURCE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS