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", "Moonshine Blues", "See See Rider Blues", "Black Bottom", and "Soon This Morning".
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.

Early life

Pridgett claimed to have been born on April 26, 1886, in Columbus, Georgia. However, the 1900 census indicates she was born in September 1882 in Alabama, and researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest that her birthplace was in Russell County, Alabama. She was the second of five children of Thomas and Ella Pridgett, from Alabama. She had at least two brothers and a sister, Malissa, with whom Gertrude was later confused by some writers.

Early career

She began her career as a performer at a talent show in Columbus, Georgia, when she was about 12 to 14 years old. A member of the First African Baptist Church, she began performing in black minstrel shows. She later claimed that she was first exposed to blues music around 1902. She formed the Alabama Fun Makers Company with her husband, Will Rainey, but in 1906 they both joined Pat Chappelle's much larger and more popular Rabbit's Foot Company, in which they were billed together as "Black Face Song and Dance Comedians, Jubilee Singers Cake Walkers". In 1910, she was described as "Mrs. Gertrude Rainey, our coon shouter". She continued with the Rabbit's Foot Company after it was taken over by a new owner, F. S. Wolcott, in 1912.
Beginning in 1914, the Raineys were billed as Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues. Wintering in New Orleans, she met numerous musicians, including Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Pops Foster. As the popularity of blues music increased, she became well known. Around this time, she met Bessie Smith, a young blues singer who was also making a name for herself. A story later developed that Rainey kidnapped Smith, forced her to join the Rabbit's Foot Minstrels, and taught her to sing the blues; the story was disputed by Smith's sister-in-law Maud Smith.

Recordings

From the late 1910s, there was an increasing demand for recordings by black musicians. In 1920, Mamie Smith was the first black woman to be recorded. In 1923, Rainey was discovered by Paramount Records producer J. Mayo Williams. She signed a recording contract with Paramount, and in December she made her first eight recordings in Chicago, including "Bad Luck Blues", "Bo-Weevil Blues" and "Moonshine Blues". She made more than 100 other recordings over the next five years, which brought her fame beyond the South. Paramount marketed her extensively, calling her the "Mother of the Blues", the "Songbird of the South", the "Gold-Neck Woman of the Blues" and the "Paramount Wildcat".
In 1924 she made some recordings with Louis Armstrong, including "Jelly Bean Blues", "Countin' the Blues" and "See, See Rider". In the same year she embarked on a tour of the Theater Owners Booking Association in the South and Midwest of the United States, singing for black and white audiences. She was accompanied by the bandleader and pianist Thomas Dorsey and the band he assembled, the Wildcats Jazz Band. They began their tour with an appearance in Chicago in April 1924 and continued, on and off, until 1928. Dorsey left the group in 1926 because of ill health and was replaced as pianist by Lillian Hardaway Henderson, the wife of Rainey's cornetist Fuller Henderson, who became the band's leader.
Although most of Rainey's songs that mention sexuality refer to love affairs with men, some of her lyrics contain references to lesbianism or bisexuality, such as the 1928 song "Prove It on Me":
They said I do it, ain't nobody caught me.
Sure got to prove it on me.
Went out last night with a crowd of my friends.
They must've been women, 'cause I don't like no men.

According to the website queerculturalcenter.org, the lyrics refer to an incident in 1925 in which Rainey was "arrested for taking part in an orgy at home involving women in her chorus." The political activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis noted that "'Prove It on Me' is a cultural precursor to the lesbian cultural movement of the 1970s, which began to crystallize around the performance and recording of lesbian-affirming songs."
Towards the end of the 1920s, live vaudeville went into decline, being replaced by radio and recordings. Rainey's career was not immediately affected; she continued recording for Paramount and earned enough money from touring to buy a bus with her name on it. In 1928, she worked with Dorsey again and recorded 20 songs, before Paramount terminated her contract. Her style of blues was no longer considered fashionable by the label.

Death

In 1935, Rainey returned to her hometown, Columbus, Georgia, where she ran three theatres, the Lyric, the Airdrome, and the Liberty Theatre until her death. She died of a heart attack in 1939, at the age of 53, in Rome, Georgia.

Legacy

Honours and awards

Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 1994, the U.S. Post Office issued a 29-cent commemorative postage stamp honoring her.
In 2004, "See See Rider Blues" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was added to the National Recording Registry by the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress.
The first annual Ma Rainey International Blues Festival was held in April 2016 in Columbus, Georgia, near the home that Rainey owned and lived in at the time of her death.
In 2017, the Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts opened in Columbus, Georgia, named in honor of Rainey and author Carson McCullers.

Recordings

This sortable table presents all 94 titles recorded by Rainey.
#MatrixRecording
date
TitleAccompanimentParamount
issue no.
Sandra Lieb
classification
JSP
77933
Document
DOCD
Notes
0115961923/12"Bad Luck Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12081Twelve-bar bluesA5581
0215971923/12"Bo-Weavil Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12080Mixture of blues and popular song formsA5581Another take on JSP & DOCD
0315981923/12"Barrel House Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12082Twelve-bar bluesA5581
0415991923/12"Those All Night Long Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12081Non-bluesA5581Another take on JSP & DOCD
0516081923/12"Moonshine Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12083Mixture of blues and popular song formsA5581
0616091923/12"Last Minute Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12080Twelve-bar bluesA5581
0716121923/12"Southern Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12083Twelve-bar bluesA5581
0816131923/12"Walking Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12082Twelve-bar bluesA5581
0916981924/03"Lost Wandering Blues"Pruit Twins12098Twelve-bar bluesA5581
1016991924/03"Dream Blues"Pruit Twins12098Twelve-bar bluesA5581
1117011924/03"Honey Where You Been So Long?"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12200Non-bluesA5581
1217021924/03"Ya-Da-Do"Her Georgia Jazz Band12257Non-bluesA5581Another take on JSP & DOCD
1317031924/03"Those Dogs of Mine"
""
Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12215Non-bluesA5581
1417041924/03"Lucky Rock Blues"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12215Mixture of blues and popular song formsA5581
1517411924/04"South Bound Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12227Non-bluesA5581
1617581924/05"Lawd Send Me a Man Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12227Non-bluesA5581
1717591924/05"Ma Rainey's Mystery Record"Lovie Austin
Blues Serenaders
12200Twelve-bar bluesA5581
1818241924/08"Shave 'Em Dry Blues"Two unknown guitars12222Eight-bar bluesB5581
1918251924/08"Farewell Daddy Blues"Unknown guitar12222Twelve-bar bluesB5581
2019221924/10"Booze and Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12242Twelve-bar bluesB5582
2119231924/10"Toad Frog Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12242Twelve-bar bluesB5582
2219241924/10"Jealous Hearted Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12252Twelve-bar bluesB5582-
2319251924/10"See See Rider Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12252Mixture of blues and popular song formsB5582With Louis Armstrong; another take on JSP & DOCD
2419261924/10"Jelly Bean Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12238Mixture of blues and popular song formsB5582With Louis Armstrong
2519271924/10"Countin' the Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12238Twelve-bar bluesB5582With Louis Armstrong; another take on JSP & DOCD
26100011924/11"Cell Bound Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12257Mixture of blues and popular song formsB5582
2721361925/05"Army Camp Harmony Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12284Twelve-bar bluesB5582Another take on JSP & DOCD
2821371925/05"Explaining the Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12284Twelve-bar bluesB5582Another take on JSP & DOCD
2921381925/05"Louisiana Hoo Doo Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12290Twelve-bar bluesB5582
3021381925/05"Goodbye Daddy Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12290Mixture of blues and popular song formsB5582
3122091925/05"Stormy Seas Blues"Her Georgia Band12295Twelve-bar bluesB5582Another take on DOCD5625
3222101925/08"Rough and Tumble Blues"Her Georgia Band12311Twelve-bar bluesB5582
3322111925/08"Night Time Blues"Her Georgia Band12303Twelve-bar bluesB5582Another take on JSP & DOCD
3422121925/08"Levee Camp Moan"Her Georgia Band12295Non-bluesB5582
3522131925/08"Four Day Honorary Scat"Her Georgia Band12303Non-bluesB5582Misprint for "'Fore Day"; another take on JSP & DOCD
3622141925/08"Memphis Bound Blues"Her Georgia Band12311Twelve-bar bluesB5582
3723691925/12"Slave to the Blues"Her Georgia Band12332Twelve-bar bluesC5583
3823701925/12"Yonder Come the Blues"Her Georgia Band12357Non-bluesC5583
3923711925/12"Titanic Man Blues"Her Georgia Band12374Mixture of blues and popular song formsC5583Another take on JSP & DOCD
4023721925/12"Chain Gang Blues"Her Georgia Band12338Twelve-bar bluesC5583
4123731925/12"Bessemer Bound Blues"Her Georgia Jazz Band12374Twelve-bar bluesC5583Another take on JSP & DOCD
4223741925/12"Oh My Babe Blues"Her Georgia Band12332Non-bluesC5583
4323751925/12"Wringing and Twisting Blues"Her Georgia Band12338Non-bluesC5583
4423691925/12"Stack O'Lee Blues"Her Georgia Band12357BalladC5583
4524481926/03"Broken Hearted Blues"Her Georgia Band12364Twelve-bar bluesC5583Another take on DOCD5625
4624511926/03"Jealousy Blues"Her Georgia Band12364Non-bluesC5583Another take on DOCD5660
4724521926/03"Seeking Blues"Her Georgia Band12352Mixture of blues and popular song formsC5583Another take on JSP & DOCD
4824661926/03"Mountain Jack Blues"Jimmy Blythe 12352Twelve-bar bluesC5583Another take on JSP & DOCD
4926271926/06"Down in the Basement"Her Georgia Band12395Non-bluesC5583
5026281926/06"Sissy Blues"Her Georgia Band12384Twelve-bar bluesC5583
5126291926/06"Broken Soul Blues"Her Georgia Band12384Non-bluesC5583
5226311926/06"Trust No Man"Lillian Henderson 12395Non-bluesC5583
534051926/11"Morning Hour Blues"Jimmy Blythe
Blind Blake
12455Twelve-bar bluesD5584
544071926/11"Weepin' Woman Blues"Her Georgia Boys12455Twelve-bar bluesD5584
554081926/11"Soon This Morning"Her Georgia Band12438Twelve-bar bluesD5584
5640191926/12"Little Low Mamma Blues"Blind Blake
possibly Leroy Picket
12419Twelve-bar bluesD5584
5740201926/12"Grievin Hearted Blues"Blind Blake
possibly Leroy Picket
12419Mixture of blues and popular song formsD5584
5840211926/12"Don't Fish in My Sea"Jimmy Blythe 12438Twelve-bar bluesD5584
5940821927/08"Big Boy Blues"Her Georgia Band12548Twelve-bar bluesD5584
6040831927/08"Blues Oh Blues"Her Georgia Band12566Non-bluesD5584
6140901927/08"Damper Down Blues"Her Georgia Band12548Twelve-bar bluesD5584
6240911927/08"Gone Daddy Blues"Her Georgia Band12526Mixture of blues and popular song formsD5584
6340921927/08"Oh Papa Blues"Her Georgia Band12566Non-bluesD5584
6447071927/08"Misery Blues"Her Georgia Band12508Non-bluesD5584
6547081927/08"Dead Drunk Blues"Her Georgia Band12508Twelve-bar bluesD5584
6647091927/08"Slow Driving Moan"Her Georgia Band12526Mixture of blues and popular song formsD5584
67202281927/12"Blues the World Forgot—Part 1"Her Georgia Band12647ComedyD5584
68202291927/12"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"Her Georgia Band12590Non-bluesD5584
69202301927/12"Blues the World Forgot—Part 2"Her Georgia Band12647ComedyD5584
70202311927/12"Hellish Rag"Her Georgia Band12612Non-bluesD5584
71202321927/12"Georgia Cake Walk"Her Georgia Band12590ComedyD5584
72202331927/12"New Bo-Weavil Blues"Her Georgia Band12603Mixture of blues and popular song formsD5584
73202321927/12"Moonshine Blues"Her Georgia Band12603Mixture of blues and popular song formsD5584
74202331927/12"Ice Bag Papa"Her Georgia Band12612Non-bluesD5584
75206611928/06"Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12687Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
76206621928/06"Log Camp Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12804Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
77206631928/06"Hear Me Talking to You"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12668Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
78206641928/06"Hustlin' Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12804Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
79206651928/06"Prove It on Me Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12668Non-bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
80206661928/06"Victim of the Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12687Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
81206671928/06"Traveling Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12707Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom; another take on JSP and DOCD5216
82206681928/06"Deep Moaning Blues Blues"Her Tub Jug Washboard Band12707Twelve-bar bluesE5156Band led by Georgia Tom
another take on JSP & DOCD
83208781928/09"Daddy Goodbye Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12963Eight-bar bluesE5156
84208791928/09"Sleep Talking Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12760Twelve-bar bluesE5156Another take on JSP & DOCD
85208801928/09"Tough Luck Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12735Twelve-bar bluesE5156
86208811928/09"Blame It on the Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12760Twelve-bar bluesE5156
87208821928/09"Sweet Rough Man"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12926Twelve-bar bluesE5156
88208831928/09"Runaway Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12902Twelve-bar bluesE5156
89208851928/09"Screech Owl Blues"Eddie Miller 12735Twelve-bar bluesE5156
90208861928/09"Black Dust Blues"Eddie Miller 12926Twelve-bar bluesE5156
91208971928/09"Leaving This Morning"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12902Twelve-bar bluesE5156
92208981928/09"Black Eye Blues"Georgia Tom Dorsey
Tampa Red
12963Twelve-bar bluesE5156Another take on JSP & DOCD
93209211928/10"Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues"Papa Charlie Jackson 12718Twelve-bar bluesE5156
94201441928/10"Big Feeling Blues"Papa Charlie Jackson 12718Twelve-bar bluesE5156

Footnotes