Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey
Background information
Birth nameGertrude Pridgett
Born(1886-04-26)April 26, 1886
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Died (aged 53)
Rome, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Years active1899–1933
LabelsParamount

Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (born Gertrude Pridgett, April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) was an American blues singer. She was one of the first generation of blues singers to record.

Rainey was known as The "Mother 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), "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (1927), and "Soon This Morning" (1927).

Rainey died on December 22, 1939 in Rome, Georgia from a heart attack, aged 53.

She is a character of the Ma Rainey's Black Bottom movie.

References

  1. ↑ Southern, Eileen (1997). The Music of Black Americans: A History (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-97141-4.
  2. ↑ Russonello, Giovanni (2019-06-12). "Overlooked No More: Ma Rainey, the 'Mother of the Blues'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  3. ↑ Lieb, Sandra (1983). Mother of the Blues: A Study of Ma Rainey (3rd ed.). University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 0-87023-394-7.