"W. C. Handy was born and raised in Florence, Alabama, and so was I. When he was grown he moved to Memphis and lived the "blues" long before he started writing them. Handy had already made a major impression in the world of jazz long before I was born. But the first time I visited his birthplace on College Street, he also became a strong influence in my own life. His accomplishments encouraged me to pursue my own dreams... so I promised myself that when I became a portrait artist, I would paint this great man. And I did."

Jan Roblin