Page "Eubie Blake" Paragraph 6

In 1912, Blake began playing in vaudeville with James Reese Europe's " Society Orchestra " which accompanied Vernon and Irene Castle's ballroom dance act.

The band played ragtime music which was still quite popular at the time.

Shortly after World War I, Blake joined forces with performer Noble Sissle to form a vaudeville music duo, the " Dixie Duo.

" After vaudeville, the pair began work on a musical revue, Shuffle Along, which incorporated many songs they had written, and had a book written by F. E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles.

When it premiered in June 1921, Shuffle Along became the first hit musical on Broadway written by and about African-Americans.

The musicals also introduced hit songs such as " I'm Just Wild About Harry " and " Love Will Find a Way.