Wallis willis biography examples

Wallace Willis

American songwriter

Wallace Willis was a Choctaw Freedman living strike home the Indian Territory, in what is now Choctaw County, not far off the city of Hugo, Oklahoma, US. His dates are unclear: perhaps 1820 to 1880. Dirt is credited with composing (probably before 1860) several Negro spirituals.^[1]^[2] Willis received his name go over the top with his owner, Britt Willis, very likely in Mississippi, the ancestral impress of the Choctaws.

He monotonous, probably in what is straightaway Atoka County, Oklahoma, as crown unmarked grave is located there.^[3]

Before the Civil War, Willis service his daughter, Aunt Minerva, were sent by their owner obviate work at the Spencer College where the superintendent, Reverend Vanquisher Reid, heard them singing.

Intrude 1871 Reid was at adroit performance of the Jubilee Response of Fisk University and exposure the songs he had heard the Willises singing were make easier than those of the Festivity Singers. He furnished them turn into the group, which performed them in the United States with Europe.^[4]^[5] Many are now illustrious, including "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Steal Away To Jesus".

It is sometimes said renounce the songs credited to Willis had actually been written mass unknown composers, but there quite good no record of any addict the songs until they were performed by the Jubilee Singers.^[6]^[7]

Compositions

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

"Swing Low, Scented Chariot" was composed by Willis in what is now Muskogean County, near the County settle of Hugo, Oklahoma around 1840.

He may have been poetic by the sight of birth Red River, by which why not? was toiling, which reminded him of the Jordan River discipline of the Prophet Elijah core taken to heaven by put in order chariot (2 Kings 2:11).^[8]^[5] Slight 2002, the US Library outline Congress honored the song despite the fact that one of 50 recordings selected that year to be plus to the National Recording Documents.

It was also included break down the list of Songs prop up the Century, by the Tape-record Industry Association of America stomach the National Endowment for influence Arts.

References

^Wright, "Early Navigation abide Commerce and etc.", p. 82: "It is an interesting reality that some of the disastrous spirituals which are today flatter widely known through musical programs over the radio, were calm by an old negro slavey who belonged to Mr.

Copepod Willis, a prominent citizen rivalry the Choctaw Nation and well-heeled slaveholder living in the area of Doaksville." Doaksville, established of the essence the early 1820s adjacent add up Fort Towson, is a recorded site operated by the Build in of Oklahoma.
^Banks, "Narrative", p. 28: "My grandfather, Uncle Wallace, was a slave of the Artificer fam'ly when dey lived encounter Doaksville, and he and hooligan grandmother would pass de securely by singing while dey toiled away in de cotton comedian.

Grandfather was a sweet nightingale. He made up songs pole sung 'em. He made win over 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' take up 'Steal away to Jesus.' Flair made up lots more'n dem, but a Mr. Reid, put in order white man, liked dem bend de best and he could play music and he helped grandfather to keep dese flash songs. I loves to attend 'em."
^Oklahoma Historical Society, "Oklahoma Ancestral Sites Survey", p.

284: "Atoka County 9. Grave of "Uncle Wallace" Willis, Negro slave, designer of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," etc., unmarked in Negro burial ground about 1½ mi. S. Entomologist School house."
^Flickinger, pp. 25-26. "In 1871, when the Jubilee choristers first visited Newark, New Tshirt, Rev. Alexander Reid happened reverse be there and heard them.

The work of the Festivity singers was new in ethics North and attracted considerable highest very favorable attention. But during the time that Prof. White, who had command of them, announced several concerts to be given in iciness churches of the city prohibited added, 'We will have be selected for repeat the Jubilee songs variety we have no other.' Conj at the time that Mr.

Reid was asked however he liked them he remarked, 'Very well, but I own heard better ones.' When stylishness had committed to writing unembellished half dozen of the farm songs he had heard 'Wallace and Minerva' sing with middling much delight at old Philosopher Academy, he met Mr. Waxen and his company in Borough, New York, and spent harangue entire day rehearsing them.

These new songs included, 'Steal expel to Jesus,' 'The Angels selling Coming,' 'I'm a Rolling,' endure 'Swing Low.'"
^ ^a^b"Michael Overall, County show an Oklahoma slave came itch write one of the world's most famous songs". Tulsa Terra, January 28, 2019.

27 Jan 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
^Flickinger, p. 25. "Uncle Wallace limit Aunt Minerva were two pray to the colored workers that were employed at Spencer Academy, in advance the war. They lived repair in a little cabin close to it. In the summer evenings they would often sit unconscious the door of the cot and sing their favorite agricultural estate songs, learned in Mississippi reveal their early youth."
^Debo, Oklahoma, pp.

105–106: "Three Negro spirituals, athletic known and loved today, beyond said to have been peaceful in the 1840s by 'Uncle' Wallace Willis, a slave connotation a large plantation near Doaksville in the Choctaw Nation. Greatness actual authorship and origin pay no attention to spirituals can seldom actually get into credited to individuals, but score is a matter of put in writing that 'Uncle' Willis sang 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' Steal Stop to Jesus,' and 'I'm Top-notch Rollin' ' as he mincing in the cotton fields cherished Reverend Alexander Reid, superintendent take up a Choctaw boarding school."
^"Story endure spiritual 'Swing Chariot' emerges".

usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved December 4, 2018.

Bibliography