Dallas Blues written right here in Oklahoma
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The first notated Blues song was not born in New Orleans, but in Oklahoma City.
Hart Wand, a local musician, found inspiration for his groundbreaking composition while playing with fellow jazz artists at Halle Richardson’s Shoe Shine Parlor, a hub of creativity nestled on E 2nd St.
One fateful day, while he was working on a new tune, Wand was interrupted by a helper sweeping the floor. Upon hearing the music, the helper remarked, “That song gives me the Dallas Blues.”
There’s a place I know, folks won’t pass me by
Dallas, Texas, that’s the town, I cry, oh hear me cry
And I’m going back, going back to stay there ’til I die, until I die
That phrase hit him just right and Hart embraced it as the title for his new tune. In March 1912, Wand proudly published his creation, just a few short months before the renowned “Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy was published.
With its infectious melody and poignant lyrics, “Dallas Blues” swiftly captivated audiences far beyond the borders of Oklahoma City.