Black Women in Blues

Ma Rainey, as she was known, began singing blues songs and contributed greatly to the evolution of the form and to the growth of its popularity. In her travels she appeared with jazz and jug bands throughout the South. While with the Tolliver’s Circus and Musical Extravaganza troupe, she exerted a direct influence on young Bessie Smith. Her deep contralto voice, sometimes verging on harshness, was a powerful instrument by which to convey the pathos of her simple songs of everyday life and emotion.

Rainey played a central role in connecting the less polished, male-dominated country blues and the smoother, Gertrude"Ma" Rainey made an incredible impression before she even began singing, with her thick straightened hair sticking out all over, her huge teeth capped in gold, an ostrich plume in her hand, and a long triple necklace of shining gold coins sparkling against her sequined dress.

Walking on stage, she made an incredible impression before she even began singing, with her thick straightened hair sticking out all over, her huge teeth capped in gold, an ostrich plume in her hand, and a long triple necklace of shining gold coins sparkling against her sequined dress. The gravelly timbre of her contralto voice, with its range of only about an octave, enraptured audiences wherever she went. She generally sang without melodic embellishment, in a raspy, deep voice that had an emotional appeal for listeners.

Bad luck blues ; Bo-weevil blues ; Barrel house blues ; Those all night long blues ; Moonshine blues ; Lost minute blues ; Southern blues ; Walking blues (Ma Rainey acc. by Lovie Austin and her Blues Serenaders) -- Last wandering blues ; Dream blues (Ma Rainey acc. by the Pruitt Twins) -- Honey where you been so long? ; Ya-da-do ; Those dogs of mine ; Lucky rock blues ; South bound blues ; Lawd send me a man blues ; Ma Rainey's mystery record (Ma Rainey acc. by Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders) -- Shave 'em dry blues ; Farewell daddy blues (Ma Rainey) -- Booze and blues ; Toad frog blues ; Jealous hearted blues ; See see rider blues (Ma Rainey acc. by her Georgia Jazz Band).

ealous hearted blues.--Cell bound blues.--Army camp harmony blues.--Explainin' the blues.--Night time blues.--'Fore day honry scat.--Rough and tumble blues.--Memphis bound blues.--Slave to the blues.--Bessemer bound blues.--Slow driving moan.--Gone daddy blues

lack cat hoot owl blues (2:28) -- Log camp blues (2:54) -- Hear me talking to you (3:00) -- Hustlin' blues (2:36) -- Prove it on me blues (2:40) -- Victim of the blues (2:34) -- Traveling blues (2:43) -- Deep moaning blues (take 1) (2:58) -- Deep moaning blues (take 2) (2:43) -- Daddy goodbye blues (3:12) -- Sleep talking blues (take 1) (3:10) -- Sleep talking blues (take 2) (3:16) -- Tough luck blues (3:05) -- Blame it on the blues (3:09) -- Sweet rough man (3:05) -- Runaway blues (2:26) -- Screech owl blues (2:56) -- Black dust blues (2:52) -- Leaving this morning (3:08) -- Black eye blues (take 1) (3:18) -- Black eye blues (take 2) (3:12) -- Ma and Pa poorhouse blues (duet w/ Papa Charlie Jackson) (3:03) -- Big feeling blues (duet w/ Papa Charlie Jackson) (2:45).