W. C. Handy

William Christopher Handy

American blues composer and musician, born 16 November 1873, Florence, Alabama, died 29 March 1958, New York City, New York, USA.
Among the most influencal American songwriters, Handy was widely known as the "Father of the Blues".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._C._Handy
http://www.famouscomposers.net/w-c-handy