Eubie Blake: Rags, Rhythm, and Race.

The article focuses on the biography *Eubie Blake: Rags, Rhythm, and Race*, which chronicles the life and musical career of Eubie Blake, a pioneering African American pianist, composer, and bandleader influential in popularizing ragtime and jazz in early twentieth-century American musical theater. Born in 1887 in Baltimore, Blake rose from humble beginnings to national prominence through collaborations such as the hit Broadway show *Shuffle Along* (1921–1923), which helped introduce Black musical styles to wider audiences. The book traces Blake's career from his early performances in Black vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley to his later role as a cultural elder during the 1970s ragtime revival. While the biography offers a detailed narrative of Blake's life and contributions, it provides limited critical analysis of the broader racial, economic, and cultural contexts shaping his work.