Edmond Dédé 1827-1903
We’ll start off the month with one of my favorites, Edmond Dédé. He’s got a Wikipedia article that has some detail. But to really understand his legacy and the odds against him, look at this article from New Orleans Public Radio. And here’s an article from 64 Parishes about Dédé.
As you can see, there’s exactly one album available on Amazon. And there’s a book about Dédé: The Exile’s Song: Edmond Dédé and the Unfinished Revolutions of the Atlantic World. So while he’s getting some recognition, he’s not receiving the accolades that other composers of his stature do. Some of his musical scores are now available to the public at no charge at IMSLP, if you want to try performing some of his works for yourself (and you should!). And to just get a taste for his music, check out the performances posted on YouTube.