St. Louis Blues

song by Handy

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

"St. Louis Blues" is a classic song by American composer W.C. Handy, published in 1914. Handy is credited with integrating the blues idiom into popular music, helping to shape the development of jazz and other genres.12

The song is characterized by its use of "blue notes," which are slightly flattened tones that give the blues its distinctive melancholic sound. "St. Louis Blues" became a foundational piece in the blues repertoire and has been recorded by numerous artists across various genres. It is considered one of Handy's most famous works and a significant contribution to American music.12

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W.C. Handy
…works is the classic “St. Louis Blues.”
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…works is the classic “St. Louis Blues.”
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Ethel Waters
Handy classic “St. Louis Blues” on the stage. Her professional rise was rapid, and she moved to New York City. In 1925 she appeared at the Plantation Club in Harlem, and her performance there led to Broadway.
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Handy classic “St. Louis Blues” on the stage. Her professional rise was rapid, and she moved to New York City. In 1925 she appeared at the Plantation Club in Harlem, and her performance there led to Broadway.
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Latin jazz
… used it in his “St. Louis Blues” (1914).
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… used it in his “St. Louis Blues” (1914).
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the Mills Brothers
…numbers as “Tiger Rag,” “St. Louis Blues,” and “Bugle Call Rag.” Each brother specialized in an “instrument”: they imitated two trumpets, a trombone, and a tuba. They were also a hit on records and in live performances, and they appeared in several films, including The Big Broadcast (1932) and…
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…numbers as “Tiger Rag,” “St. Louis Blues,” and “Bugle Call Rag.” Each brother specialized in an “instrument”: they imitated two trumpets, a trombone, and a tuba. They were also a hit on records and in live performances, and they appeared in several films, including The Big Broadcast (1932) and…
Read More