W. C. Handy

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/w-c-handy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was W. C. Handy born?November 16, 1873
2. Where was W. C. Handy born?Florence, Alabama
3. Who was W. C. Handy?W. C. Handy was an American composer and publisher born in 1873 who helped bring blues music to a wide audience. He is often called the "Father of the Blues" because of his work.
4. Why is he called the Father of the Blues?He wrote and published many blues songs, turning a local folk style into a popular music genre that many people could learn and enjoy.

12-Bar Blues: A standard musical form consisting of twelve measures, widely used in blues, jazz, and rock music.
Blue Notes: Musical notes, typically the third, fifth, or seventh scale degree, played at a slightly lower pitch for expressive effect.
Folk Tradition: The body of cultural expression, including music, passed down orally through generations within a community.