Memphis Blues (written in 1909 and published in 1912) is credited as the first published blues song and makes use of the stride piano style where the pianists' left hand plays big interval leaps in the bass range. Although this style of piano playing was commonly found in brothels and saloons, it was composed in this case as an election campaign song for Mr. Edward H. Crump when he ran for Mayor of Memphis. W.C. Handy changed the lyrics after the campaign from supporting Mr. Crump to the words you hear in this version in protest of Mr. Crump closing the brothels (where piano players frequently worked) in an effort to clean up the city.
a) Mr. Crump
b) Memphis Blues
c) Brothels
d) Edward
