The W.C. Handy Memphis Home & Museum, operated by Heritage Tours, will celebrate the 147th Birthday Anniversary of W.C. Handy – “Father of the Blues” – on Monday (Nov. 16).
Following the ribbon cutting of the redesigned Handy Park on Beale Street at 4 p.m., everyone is invited to visit the W.C. Handy Memphis Home & Museum, located at Beale and Fourth Street. Blues/jazz artist Joyce Cobb will pay tribute to W.C. Handy by singing a medley of his signature blues songs.
W.C. Handy’s music gave Memphis the title of “Home of the Blues” and also helped make Beale Street the iconic street for which it is still known worldwide.
Annually, the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards, sponsored by Heritage Tours, honors “Authentic Beale Street Musicians” to celebrate Handy’s birthday. The awards were postponed this year.
In addition to Joyce Cobb, the recipient of the 2019 W.C. Handy Lifetime Music Achievement Award, the event will be attended by other former honorees.
Tours of the W.C. Handy Home and Museum will be given throughout the weekend in celebration of Handy’s birthday beginning Friday (Nov. 13). Hours of operation are 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
(For more information, contact Heritage Tours at 901-527-3427.)
