James Reese Europe

James Reese Europe
Lt. James Europe
Background information
Also known asLieut. Jim Europe
Born(1880-02-22)February 22, 1880
Mobile, Alabama, US
DiedMay 9, 1919(1919-05-09) (aged 39)
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Genres
Occupations
Instrument(s)Violin, piano
Formerly of

James Reese Europe (February 22, 1880 – May 9, 1919) was an American ragtime and early jazz bandleader, arranger, and composer. He was the leading figure on the African-American music scene of New York City in the 1910s. Eubie Blake called him the "Martin Luther King of music".