Bland was one of 8 children born in Flushing, New York, on October 22, 1854 to a free family. His father was one of the first U. S. Negro college graduates (Oberlin College, 1845). Beginning with an eight-dollar banjo purchased by his father, he was performing professionally by age 14.
James was educated in Washington, D. C., where he graduated from Howard University in 1873.
Talented as an entertainer and song composer, he became a minstrel performer, achieving his greatest success in Great Britain between 1882 and 1901. He wrote more than seven hundred songs, mostly for minstrel shows, among them Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, In the Evening by the Moonlight, and Oh, Dem Golden Slippers. From the time of his return to the United States in 1901 until his death in Philadelphia, on May 5, 1911, he lived in poverty and obscurity.
Often called "The World's Greatest Minstrel Man", Bland toured the United States, as well as Europe. Appearing as "The Prince of Negro Songwriters, " he was invited to give command performances for Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. Music historian Alec Wilder calls Bland the black writer who "broke down the barriers to white music publishers' offices. "
