He received the Presidential Medal of Honor, and performed until he was in his late 90’s, having composed 350 songs. In 1978, the show “Eubie!” premiered on Broadway, which was a hit musical overview of the pioneers life. Ragtime allowed Africans Amercians to express happiness, and freedom through singing and/or dancing. It also opened doors to other genres for African Americans.On his 100th birthday the Kennedy Center presented the televised “Eubie blake: A Century of Music”, which in 1983 won an Emmy Award. He passed a few days after turning 100 on Feb 12,1983, in Brooklyn, NY