Blues Blues music came about during the later years of the 1800’s after the Civil War. They are deep-rooted from slavery and it evolved from African spirituals and chants, field hollers and hymns. Blues came from the Delta of Mississippi and moved up to New Orleans, the Midwest, and to the north, like New York. During the 1900’s to 1920’s, the Harlem Renaissance was going on and the blues was a popular sensation. Many of the lyrics from blues songs are very powerful and soulful. The topics vary from daily life, sex, and drinking to the hardships of love. Blues music was very controversial because of the explicit content that was sung about.
Ma Rainey Born Gertrude Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in Columbus, Georgia. She was known as the “mother of blues” enjoying. Most of her popularity during the 20’s. she served as an inspiration for many African American artists during her time like Langston Hughes and Sterling Brown. Sterling Brown, an African American poet, described Ma Rainey, in 'Black Culture and Black Consciousness,' as a “person of folk.” She performed as a singer and dancer on “a bunch of blackberries” at the springer opera house in 1900 she was 14 years old. Feb 4 1904 she married Willaim "Pa” Rainey, comedian songster. Her and her husband traveled to the south and did tent shows and cabarets. 1905 she began working blues into her performances after traveling the southern states. 1915 her and Pa Rainey toured with Fat Chappelles Rabbit Foot Minstrels, after they were dubbed the "assasinators of the blues". She then separated from her husband in 1916. In 1923 She signed with Paramount Records and recorded eight popular singles with them. In later years she ended up up recording songs with other famous singers like Louis Armstrong. She was known as the "Queen of Blues" and the "Mother of Blues."
Bessie smith Born in Chattanooga, Tenessee in 1894, began her career in 1912. She was known was one of the best blues singers during the 1920's and 30's. One of the greatest classic blues singers of the 1920s. 1912 Bessie joined a traveling show as a dancer and singer with Pa and Ma Rainey, where she developed a friendship with the experienced performer. She joined the T.O.B.A. vaudeville circuit. Eventually the east and south became Smith’s new following and by the early 20’s she was one the most popular blues singers. She signed with Columbia records in 1923 and recorded “Gulf Coast Blues” and “Down Hearted Blues.” Smith eventually was able to record with great Jazz musicians of that era and created her own renditions of “St. Louis Blues” with Loius Armstrong. She was popular amongst the African-Americans and Whites. In 1929 she appeared in a film St. Louis Blues by John Hammond increasing different audience into the blues world. Bessie was known was one of the best performers of her time based off of her emotional connection to her music and artistry.