Ma Rainey

MA RAINEY was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. She was billed as the "Mother of the Blues". She began performing as a teenager and became known as Ma Rainey after her marriage to Will Rainey, in 1904. They toured with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and later formed their own group, Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues. Her first recording was made in 1923. In the next five years, she made over 100 recordings, including "Bo-Weevil Blues" (1923), "Moonshine Blues" (1923), "See See Rider Blues" (1924), "Black Bottom" (1927), and "Soon This Morning" (1927).

Rainey was known for her powerful vocal abilities, energetic disposition, majestic phrasing, and a "moaning" style of singing. Her qualities are present and most evident in her early recordings "Bo-Weevil Blues" and "Moonshine Blues". Rainey recorded with Louis Armstrong, and she toured and recorded with the Georgia Jazz Band. She continued to tour until 1935, when she retired and went to live in her hometown.

 

 

Wikipedia contributors. "Ma Rainey." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Jan. 2020. Web. 13 Jan. 2020.


Total: 9

Blame It On The Blues
Down in The Basement
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey - Volume 28
Gertrude Ma Rainey V.3 Queen Of The Blues
Jazz, Vol. 4, Jazz Singers
Ma Rainey "Blues the world forgot" 1924-1928
Ma Rainey V.2 Oh My Babe Blues
The Great Female Blues Singers - Shout It Out Sist...
The Immortal Ma Rainey