The Farmville Lions Club is pleased to serve as host for the James Bland Music Competition, a contest for elementary through high school students. Music students from Prince Edward, Cumberland, Fuqua, and home educated students are invited to participate. The competition will be held at the Farmville Baptist Church on the afternoon of Saturday, February 24, 2007.

The competition is for individual musicians and consists of two divisions - Instrumental and Vocal, and will be judged by distinguished music professionals. First place winners in each division will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and second place winners will receive a $50 bond. Winners of the Farmville competition are eligible to participate in the Lions District Competition in April in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

The Lions of Virginia established the Bland Memorial Music Scholarship Program in 1948, and local Lions clubs have held competitions since. This is the second year the Farmville Lions Club will host a contest.

Registration forms should be submitted to the Lions by February 1, 2007.

For more information, please contact Betty Robb Breen, Bland Music Competition Chairman,

(434) 392-4118, or email: breenbr@yahoo.com.

A SHORT HISTORY OF JAMES A. BLAND 
James A. "Jimmy" Bland, the greatest Black writer of American Folk Song composed over seven hundred songs, a number of 
which were outright contributions to Americana. 
He was born October 12, 1854, at Flushing, Long Island, N.Y., a free American, one of eight children. His family was from 
Charleston, South Carolina. His father, Allan Bland, an alumnus of Wilberforce University, was one of the first College Trained 
Blacks. He attended night classes and received his law degree from Howard University, and was the first Black man to be 
appointed examiner in the United States Patent Office. 
Jimmy Bland, as a boy 12 years old and living in Philadelphia, saw an old black man playing a Banjo and singing Black 
Spirituals. Jimmy was so elated over this that he was determined to have his own Banjo. So he built a crude imitation with old 
bailing wire for strings, but a larger kid picked a fight with him and tore it up. His father bought Jimmy an eight-dollar Banjo. 
Soon thereafter the family moved to Washington D.C.. Having taught himself to play exceptionally well, Jimmy earned 
spending money by playing and singing in the streets. By the time he was fourteen he had become professional and was 
entertaining in hotels, restaurants and for private parties. At fifteen, he started composing some short pieces of his own, but did 
not record any of them. 
He finished high school in Washington and strummed and sang his way partly through Howard University. At seventeen, he 
tried to put on a musical show at Howard and was banned from the University. While at Howard University, he met a girl, 
Mannie Friend, who was destined to help shape his future life. Then he met Professor White, an old black man with snow white 
hair, who recognized Bland's God Given musical talents and began teaching him how to write songs and music. One night while 
playing and singing in Lafayette Park to his girl friend Mannie, Mr. John Ford, owner of the Ford Theater, saw him and offered 
to introduce Jimmy to George Primrose, one of the great minstrel men of the time. 
The introduction to Primrose was delayed by a trip to Mannie's birthplace in Tidewater, Virginia, which was on Judge White's 
plantation on the James River, between Charles City and Williamsburg. Here, while James Bland and Mannie Friend were 
sitting on the bank of the James River, Jimmy composed "Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny." Mannie wrote the words down for 
him as he played and sang it. On returning to Washington, Mr. John Ford introduced Jimmy Bland to George Primrose of 
Primrose and West. With his one song "Carry Me Back To Ole Virginny," Jimmy, now age 19 made a big hit with Primrose and 
Billy West and within a week they opened their new show in Baltimore. 
Mr. Tom Harvey, owner of the then famous Harvey's Restaurant in Washington, D.C., had Jimmy play and sing his composition 
"In The Evening By The Moonlight" for the Canvas Back Club, now the Gridiron Club, that met at his restaurant. President 
Cleveland and General Robert E. Lee were both member and present for the affair. Bland, realizing the limitations of the fourstringed 
Banjo, added a fifth string to the instrument and it became known as the Bland Banjo. 
In his middle twenties, Jimmy worked the minstrel shows and eventually joined Colonel Jack Harvey's minstrel troupe and 
toured the United States. In 1881, Bland's salary was $10,000 a year; the highest ever paid a minstrel man. Then Bland and 
Harvey's minstrel went to Europe and became a sensation overnight. Jimmy gave a command performance at Buckingham 
Palace before Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. 
When Harvey's show came back to the States, Bland stayed in London. During the twenty years he lived abroad, he toured the 
continent earning $12,000 a year. Up to this time, only three American composers had made a dent in the German music 
conscience, John Philip Sousa, James A. Bland and Stephen Foster. In 1901, he returned from Europe, penniless and broke, and 
went back to Washington, D.C. 
While abroad he had lived high and dressed well, probably why he and his money soon parted company. Aided by friends, he 
tried to compose but the old spirit was gone. Eventually, he did compose and write lyric for a musical production called "The 
Sporting Girl" which had 18 songs in it. After having sold the work for only $250, he gave up and returned to Philadelphia, 
broke and in very poor health. 
Bland died of tuberculosis on May 6,1911. He was buried in Merion Cemetery near Philadelphia, with not even a death notice 
in the newspaper to mark his passing. The once handsome, happy-go-lucky, good natured, slight of build black man, with wavy 
hair, light complexion, and who was often called, "The Worlds Greatest Minstrel Man", passed into oblivion. Bland's body 
remained obscure in the little Merion Cemetery covered with weeds until 1939, when the Lions of Virginia aided by Dr. J. 
Francis Cooke, editor of Etude Magazine, found his unmarked grave. 

Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny 
By James A. Bland 
"Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny" was written by James A. Bland. This is special music to the Lions in 
Virginia. The Lions Clubs of Virginia sponsor a music contest for school students called the "Bland Contest" in 
honor of James Bland. 
The Annual Bland Music Scholarships Program was established in 1948 to assist and promote cultural and 
educational opportunities for the musically talented youth of Virginia. The program consists of elimination 
contests starting at club level and continuing through “State Final Contest.” The program is open to any boy or 
girl, vocalist or instrumentalist, properly sponsored by a Virginia Lions Club. Any resident of Virginia (or 
within the club jurisdiction) and attending elementary, junior, or senior high school is eligible to participate. 
Awards shall be furnished by the State Bland Committee as follows: 
Over $25,000 is awarded yearly in state, regional, district, and local scholarships and cash awards. The total 
amount awarded can vary from year to year. To obtain information on the awards or to participate in the Bland 
Contest, please contact the Lion's Club in your area.

Virginia Lions Bland Music Scholarships 
REGISTRATION AND RULES OF THE CONTEST 
FOR VOCALIST AND/OR INSTRUMENTALIST 
The Annual Bland Music Scholarships Program was established in 1948 to assist and promote cultural and educational 
opportunities for the musically talented youth of Virginia. The program consists of elimination contests starting at club 
level and continuing through the state contest. It is administered by the following rules: 
1. Any boy or girl, vocalist or instrumentalist, properly sponsored by a Virginia Lions Club, a resident of Virginia (or 
within the club's jurisdiction) and attending elementary, junior, or senior high school is eligible to participate. (See Item 5d) 
2 a. Contestant is allowed to enter only one club contest annually. 
b. Contestant shall render only one composition and is allowed only eight (8) minutes to present it. In order to keep 
within the 8-minute time limit, contestant may eliminate part of his or her composition. The part cut out shall be marked on 
the score for the information of the judges. A one-point penalty (per judge) for every five seconds exceeding the eightminute 
limit, with a grace period for the first five seconds, will be assessed at the state level. The point penalty may be 
enforced at the district, region, zone, or club level at the discretion of the Contest Bland Chairman. In case of a tie, the 
judges shall determine the winner. 
c. Contestant must memorize his composition. 
d. Contestant shall furnish the required number of copies of his composition as defined by the club, zone and/or region, 
district and state chairmen. 
e. Lions of Virginia shall provide no instrument for contestant other than a piano. Instrumentalists, other than piano, 
may have an accompanist. Accompaniment must be provided with musical instruments played by live performers. No prerecorded 
accompaniment is allowed. 
3. All contestants must compete on the date and at the place and time of the scheduled club, zone and/or region, district or 
state contest. 
4. a. Judges for the contest shall be competent judges of music not connected with the contestant or the sponsoring club. 
b. When appropriate, there should be 2 judges for each division of music (vocal and instrument). 
c. Judges shall score the contestant on his or her ability. 
d. Score sheets shall be given to the contestant after the contest. 
5. Awards shall be furnished by the State Bland Committee as follows: 
a. Official certificates (1st and 2nd place and participation) at the club, zone and/or region, district and state levels. 
b. State Scholarships for BOTH Vocal and Instrumental WINNERS are: 
First Place SCHOLARSHIPS, each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,000 
Second Place SCHOLARSHIPS, each. . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,500 
Third Place SCHOLARSHIPS, each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 
CASH AWARDS 
4th, 5th, and 6th places, each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 600 
c. Scholarships are not transferable, and those not claimed within five (5) years after date of State Contest will be 
forfeited. 
d. State first place winners are NOT eligible to compete again. 
e. Scholarships are payable only to an accredited college or school of music or to an accredited private or public music 
teacher. Requests for payment to a college or school must be accompanied by the winner's course curriculum, which must 
include a music course, and a statement from the school indicating an outstanding balance at least in the payment amount 
being requested. Requests for payment to private and public teachers must include a signed statement for lessons previously 
given the winner, showing the dates, the number of lesson hours, and fee per hour. In order for payments from scholarships 
to be disbursed, the aforementioned information must be submitted to Lions of Virginia, 5004 Colonial Avenue, SW, 
Roanoke, VA 24018. 
f. District winners are required to SIGN a copy of "Contest Rules," certifying their familiarity therewith and their 
COMPLETE acceptance thereof. 
6. The contest will be held on February 24, 2007 at 2 pm at the Farmville Baptist Church, 132 N. Main St. 
(Date & Time) (Location & Address) 
7. Complete Registration Form and mail to: 
Farmville Lions Club, c/o BR Breen, 1555 Hardy Drive, Farmville, VA 23901 
8. Please return Registration Form on or before February 1, 2007 . 
(Date) 
(Revised 3-11-05)

PLEASE PRINT 
Virginia Lions Bland Music Scholarships 
REGISTRATION FORM FOR VOCALIST AND/OR INSTRUMENTALIST 
Please enter me in the contest to be held on February 24, 2007, 2 pm . 
(Date & Time) 
at The Farmville Baptist Church, 132 N. Main St., Farmville, Virginia . 
(Location & Address) 
Contestant’s Name _____________________________________________________________ 
(First, Middle, Last) 
Parent or Guardian _____________________________________________________________ 
Address ______________________________________________________________________ 
_______________________________________ ______________ _____________________ 
(City (State) (Zip) 
Phone ____________________________ Email Address______________________________ 
Age __________ Grade _______________ School ___________________________________ 
Type of Instrument _______________________ Type of Voice ________________________ 
Composition __________________________________________________________________ 
Composer ____________________________________________________________________ 
Accompanist ________________________________________ Phone ____________________ 
Please let us know if you need assistance finding an accompanist for the contest performance. 
Recommended by Music Teacher _________________________________________________ 
(Name) 
Phone _______________________________________________________________________ 
I have received a copy of Bland Music Scholarship Rules of the Contest. 
(Yes or No) _________ 
______________________________________________________ _____________________ 
(Signature of Contestant) (Date Signed) 
Please mail registration form to: 
Farmville Lions Club 
c/o BR Breen 
1555 Hardy Drive 
Farmville, VA 23901