James Bland (1854-1911) was born in Flushing, New York to a father who had been one of the first African-Americans to graduate college. A largely self-taught musician, he started by playing the banjo at age 12, was performing professionally by 14, and eventually became a widely known minstrel performer after graduating from Howard University. His minstrel career was an illustrious one: He toured Europe with various minstrel troupes and performed in London for 20 years, and is often referred to as “The World’s Greatest Minstrel Man.” He is said to have written over six hundred songs, the most famous of which is “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” which was the official State Song of Virginia for 57 years.