«Breaking News» The black soldiers called the Harlem Hellfighters who brought jazz to Europe

The story of how black soldiers from America brought jazz over to Europe for the first time has been retold a hundred years after they held their first concert in France. 

The 369th Infantry was one of the four African American regiments sent from the racially segregated US to fight under French command during the Great War.

Nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters, the unit became famous for its fighting exploits, spending 191 days in the trenches, more than any other American unit.

However the regiment was not old relied upon for its fighting ability, but also the morale-boosting effects of its marching band.

Fighting alongside allies on the Western Front, they introduced the until-then unknown music called jazz to British, French and other European audiences.

Lt James Reese Europe (left) and members of his 369th Infantry Regiment jazz band upon their return to the United States from Europe on February 12, 1919

Left to right. Front row: Ed Williams, Herbert Taylor, Leon Fraitor, Ralph Hawkins. Back row: Sergeant H.D. Prinas, Sergeant Dan Strorms, Joe Williams, Alfred Hanley, Caporal T.W. Taylor. The nine men are pictured in France in 1919

James Reese Europe and his Harlem Hellfighters perform at the American Red Cross Hospital Number 5 in 1918 in Paris, France

James Reese Europe, an accomplished ragtime and jazz bandleader, was believed to be the first African American officer to lead troops in a wartime attack when he formed the 369th.

The officer, who was the leading figure in black music in New York during the 1910s, put together a 40-strong band which included 'some of the best of the time'.

When they were not fighting at the front, they played to entertain the troops and locals.

In February and March 1918, Europe and his band travelled over 2,000 miles in France, performing for military audiences as well as French civilians. 

It was during this time that the band gave what is said to have been the first jazz concert on European soil, in the northwestern French city of Nantes.

'When the band had finished and the people were roaring with laughter, their faces wreathed in smiles, I was forced to say that this is just what France needed at this critical moment,' wrote one of the band members, Noble Sissle, in his memoirs. 

Members of the 369th Infantry Regiment band under the direction of Lt James Reese Europe, circa 1918

The unit (shown in New York, February 1919) became famous for its fighting exploits, spending 191 days in the trenches, more than any other American unit

France awarded the Legion d'Honneur to 171 members of the regiment for liberating the village of Sechault, where a monument to them now stands

After that night at Nantes's Theatre Graslin, Europe would never sound the same again.

It 'turned France upside down', according to local press reports from the time.

'The 'Jazz germ' had hit them,' Sissle wrote, 'and it seemed to find the vital spot.' 

The 369th Infantry received the Croix de Guerre French military decoration for bravery.

France also awarded the Legion d'Honneur to 171 members of the regiment for liberating the village of Sechault, where a monument to them now stands.

Lieutenant Europe composed one of his best-known tunes, 'One Patrol in No Man's Land', while lying injured in hospital.

He returned from the war a hero, only to die months later in May 1919 at the age of 39, stabbed in the neck by one of his bandmates. 

But the officer's death coincided with the rise of three great musical stars; Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet.

The jazz age had begun.

In February and March 1918, Europe and his band travelled over 2,000 miles in France, performing for military audiences as well as French civilians

Fighting for respect: The history of black soldiers in the US Army

The United States Colored Troops (USCT) comprised approximately 175 regiments of more than 180,000 free black men, of whom 7122 were officers.

President Abraham Lincoln official authorized use of African-Americans in combat in the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which also freed slaves in United States.

But prior to that African-Americans had already begun serving.

In July of 1862, Congress passed the Militia Act , allowing the use of the African-American population to help save the Union.

A few weeks after President Lincoln signed the legislation, free men of color joined volunteer regiments in Illinois and New York and African-American Units and began to see action.

In August 1862, the War Department decided to officially allow the Union Army to recruit African-American soldiers. 

It also said that any slave who fought would be declared free and this also meant freedom for their wives and children.

Those who volunteered where a mixture of free blacks living in the North and former slaves.

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Main photo article The story of how black soldiers from America brought jazz over to Europe for the first time has been retold a hundred years after they held their first concert in France. 
The 369th Infantry was one of the four African American regiments sent from the racially segregated US to fight under French ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

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