AMERICA'S BEST KNOWN BLACK BAND LEADER DIED 100 YEARS AGO
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On May 9, 1919, James Reese Europe*, the best known African-American band leader in the United States, died here in Boston. Jim Europe, accomplished on violin and piano, was a leading black musician in New York City in the 1910s.
Mr. Europe was stabbed in the neck with a penknife by his own drummer. He bled to death at a local hospital.
Eubie Blake dubbed Jim Europe as the "Martin Luther King of music."
*James Reese Europe (1880-1919) was born in Mobile, AL & moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of 10. JRE moved to New York City in 1904. He organized the Clef Club, a society for African-American musicians & later served in the NY Army National Guard in WWI. JRE's band traveled 2000 miles performing for both military & civilian audiences.
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On May 9, 1919, James Reese Europe*, the best known African-American band leader in the United States, died here in Boston. Jim Europe, accomplished on violin and piano, was a leading black musician in New York City in the 1910s.
Mr. Europe was stabbed in the neck with a penknife by his own drummer. He bled to death at a local hospital.
Eubie Blake dubbed Jim Europe as the "Martin Luther King of music."
*James Reese Europe (1880-1919) was born in Mobile, AL & moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of 10. JRE moved to New York City in 1904. He organized the Clef Club, a society for African-American musicians & later served in the NY Army National Guard in WWI. JRE's band traveled 2000 miles performing for both military & civilian audiences.
Sheet Music
Lt. James Reese Europe
Library of Congress Image (1919)
