The Birth of the Blues is a popular 1926 song composed by Ray Henderson with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown. It debuted in the Broadway revue George White's Scandals of 1926 and was first recorded in the same year by Paul Whiteman’s orchestra (with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord and Austin "Skin" Young), Harry Richman, and The Revelers. The tune soon became a jazz blues standard that has been covered by many artists, including Bing Crosby in 1941 and Frank Sinatra in 1957. It also appeared in modern pop culture, notably in House of Cards where President Frank Underwood sings it. The song originated as a show tune rather than a specific album track and has since appeared on numerous artists’ albums and repertoires.
