Milton Gus Steinberg of 1382 Rozelle, one of the last of the old-time Memphis Negro blues musicians, died at 5 a.m. yesterday at his home. He was 76. Born on Beale Street, he knew the street when it was in its hey day with saloons, gambling parlors, premature zoot suits, and throbbing music. Like many "old timers," Mr. Steinberg could neither read nor write music. He learned to play the piano by ear in a gambling casino and later got his start as a professional by playing at the Claridge Hotel after the regular bands had left. He played in such Beale Street saloons as Pee Wee's and the Monarch and the Showboat in West Memphis. He also played in W.C. Handy's band, both locally and in New Orleans. Mr. Steinberg retired in 1958. He last played at the Sharecropper, Memphis' first "key" club. George W. Lee, Negro insurance executive and author of a book on Beale Steet, paid this tribute to Mr. Steinberg last night. "He was around during that gorgeous and melodramatic period of Beale Street when W.C Handy first penciled the immortal 'Memphis Blues' and 'St. Louis Blues' on a cigar counter in Pee Wee's Saloon. He in a large measure symbolized the folkways of the Beale Street people from which Handy drew his own great songs." Mr. Steinberg was a member of the East Trigg Baptist Church for many years, and during the 1937 flood, he worked as a foreman at the Fairgrounds helping refugees. He was also active in politics during the years when E.H. Crump was mayor. Mr. Steinberg leaves three daughters, Mrs. Ernestine Moore and Mrs. Nan Morton, both of Detroit, and Mrs. Gladys C. Owens of 1509 South Barksdale; eight sons, Johnny Steinberg, Isaac Steinberg, and Milton Steinberg Jr., all of Detroit; Morris Steinberg of 1390 Rozelle, Wilton Steinberg of 2091 Corry, Luther Steinberg of 1386 Rozelle, Wilbur Steinberg of 1382 Rozelle, and Louis Steinberg of Memphis; a stepson, Arthur Clouston of Detroit; and 32 grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Parkway Presbyterian Church with burial in New Park Cemetery. S.W. Qualls & Co. has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12-11-1964)
Marriage License, Shelby County, Tennessee:
July 19, 1919, Milton Steinburg and Mrs. Ida Clauston
From Tennessee certificate of death:
MILTON STEINBERG
Colored, Male, Widow, Age 76
Date of death: 12/10/64
Place of death: Memphis, Tenn.
Date of birth: 11/19/88
Birthplace: Memphis, Tenn.
Usual occupation: Waiter
Business: Retired
Father's name: Unknown
Mother's name: Unknown
Informant: Wilton F. Steinburg
Cemetery: Mt. Carmel, Memphis
Director: S.W. Qualls & Co., Memphis
Milton Gus Steinberg of 1382 Rozelle, one of the last of the old-time Memphis Negro blues musicians, died at 5 a.m. yesterday at his home. He was 76. Born on Beale Street, he knew the street when it was in its hey day with saloons, gambling parlors, premature zoot suits, and throbbing music. Like many "old timers," Mr. Steinberg could neither read nor write music. He learned to play the piano by ear in a gambling casino and later got his start as a professional by playing at the Claridge Hotel after the regular bands had left. He played in such Beale Street saloons as Pee Wee's and the Monarch and the Showboat in West Memphis. He also played in W.C. Handy's band, both locally and in New Orleans. Mr. Steinberg retired in 1958. He last played at the Sharecropper, Memphis' first "key" club. George W. Lee, Negro insurance executive and author of a book on Beale Steet, paid this tribute to Mr. Steinberg last night. "He was around during that gorgeous and melodramatic period of Beale Street when W.C Handy first penciled the immortal 'Memphis Blues' and 'St. Louis Blues' on a cigar counter in Pee Wee's Saloon. He in a large measure symbolized the folkways of the Beale Street people from which Handy drew his own great songs." Mr. Steinberg was a member of the East Trigg Baptist Church for many years, and during the 1937 flood, he worked as a foreman at the Fairgrounds helping refugees. He was also active in politics during the years when E.H. Crump was mayor. Mr. Steinberg leaves three daughters, Mrs. Ernestine Moore and Mrs. Nan Morton, both of Detroit, and Mrs. Gladys C. Owens of 1509 South Barksdale; eight sons, Johnny Steinberg, Isaac Steinberg, and Milton Steinberg Jr., all of Detroit; Morris Steinberg of 1390 Rozelle, Wilton Steinberg of 2091 Corry, Luther Steinberg of 1386 Rozelle, Wilbur Steinberg of 1382 Rozelle, and Louis Steinberg of Memphis; a stepson, Arthur Clouston of Detroit; and 32 grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Parkway Presbyterian Church with burial in New Park Cemetery. S.W. Qualls & Co. has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12-11-1964)
Marriage License, Shelby County, Tennessee:
July 19, 1919, Milton Steinburg and Mrs. Ida Clauston
From Tennessee certificate of death:
MILTON STEINBERG
Colored, Male, Widow, Age 76
Date of death: 12/10/64
Place of death: Memphis, Tenn.
Date of birth: 11/19/88
Birthplace: Memphis, Tenn.
Usual occupation: Waiter
Business: Retired
Father's name: Unknown
Mother's name: Unknown
Informant: Wilton F. Steinburg
Cemetery: Mt. Carmel, Memphis
Director: S.W. Qualls & Co., Memphis
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