Ragtime great Eubie Blake dies at 100 NEW YORK (UPI) - Eubie said of Baltimore s marching bands to Blake, last of the ragtime era's Blake was too ill to attend his supplement his income from playing great composers and best known for birthday celebration given by piano m one of the city's sporting the song ' I'm Just Wild About Har- friends and admirers but be went to houses ry,' died at his Brooklyn home Sat Washington DC in below freezing Blake was only 16 years old when urday five days after his 100th birth weather the day before to hear al- he composed The Charleston Rag day most a dozen stars pay tribute to Even though Blake showed prom Blake had been suffering from turn at the Kennedy Center lse as a composer at an early age, he pneumonia for a week and a spokes- did not seem to have much of a fu of age " On his 96th birthday, Blake was man said he died "old still ture until he met Sissle "Until the last moment of his life active as a musician and TV The two men formed a friendship talk show personality and enjoyed a 1921 re- he remained alert and appreciative new popularity in 1915 In their collaboration of affection and recognition received as the hero of a sulted in a milestone Broadway mu from his friends and colleagues, ' Broadway musical, Eubie " The sical, ' Shufxle Along " said Blake's manager Elliot musical featured songs written by The show was to be remembered Blake and his lyricist and long-tim- e Hossman more than a quarter-centur- y later Hossman said the funeral will be friend, the late Noble Sissle for its bouncy hit song, I m Just private but a memorial service is He was born James Hubert Blake Wild About Harry " Harry S Tru- planned later this week at St Peters in Baltimore on Feb 7, 1883, the son man used the song as his campaign Church in Manhattan where Blake's of former slaves Blake was musi- theme on his way to an upset defeat 100th birthday celebration was held cally inclined from early childhood of Thomas E Dewey in 1948 Monday and began playing ragtime at the "Shuffle Along" also enjoyed two Blake, whose wife Marion died last age of 12 He also learned how to other popular songs, "Love Will June, had no survivors, Hossman play a cornet and became a member Find a Way" and "Gypsy Blues "