W. C. Handy has been given the title of Father of the Blues by music historians. He was a composer, as well as a performer. His most famous composition was the St. Louis Blues. Miss Alice has placed Mr. Handy as the central character flanked by dancers.

He was born in Florence, Alabama and after completing his education he began traveling with blues bands throughout the south. In 1909 he settled in Memphis, Tennessee where he performed, wrote music, and had a music publishing company. He also wrote several books on the early history of the blues genre.

— Tim Moseley