Bland, James A. (1854-1911), was a Black American composer. In 1878, he published “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.” This song, with the name changed to “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” was the state song of Virginia from 1940 to 1997. Bland’s other well-known songs include “In the Evening by the Moonlight” and “Oh, Dem Golden Slippers.” He also became popular as a banjo player and starred in a Black minstrel company.
James Allen Bland was born on Oct. 22, 1854, in Flushing, New York. He died on May 5, 1911.
