Noble Sissle

About

Jazz pioneer who created the musical Shuffle Along, with the featured song "I'm Just Wild About Harry."

Before Fame

He served in World War I, playing drums and violin for the 369th Regimental Band.

Trivia

Shuffle Along was not only the earliest Broadway play written by African Americans, but it was also the first to both be about African Americans and to feature them in the cast.

Family Life

He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Cleveland, Ohio as a child.

Associated With

He made his best-known musical in partnership with pianist Eubie Blake; Sissle wrote the lyrics, while Blake composed the music.