Black Pearls: Blues Queens of the 1920sThroughout the 1920s, in tents, theaters, dance halls and cabarets, and on "race" records, black American women captivated large audiences with their singing of the blues. University of Maryland professor Harrison examines the subjects and texts of their songs, the toll these performers paid for their right to be heard, and what they did to transform a folk tradition into a popular art. She describes the singing and lifestyles of Sippie Wallace, Victoria Spivey, Edith Wilson and Alberta Hunter to illustrate how they introduced a new model of the black woman: assertive and sexy, gutsy yet tender, bereft but not downtrodden, exploited but not resentful, independent yet vulnerable. The author shows that their choice of performing style, inflection, emphasis and improvisation provided a perspective and expressiveness that profoundly affected later American popular music. -- Publishers Weekly Blues music spawned legendary performers whose influence has been felt in many musical forms here and around the world. Until now the important role of the great women blues singers has largely gone unexplored. This book tells of the cultural and social impact of the blues during the 1920s when the genre was dominated by women, both on stage and on record. Harrison (Afro-American Studies Department, University of Maryland) writes with authority, focusing particularly on Sippie Wallace, Edith Wilson, Victoria Spivey, and Alberta Hunter as she analyzes the music and the collective black experience out of which it grew. A significant book, particularly for collections of music history, black studies, and women's studies. -- Library Journal |
Contents
Riding Toby to the Big Time | 17 |
Crazy Blues Starts a New Craze | 43 |
Blues from | 63 |
Victoria Spivey | 147 |
He Used to Be Your Man But Hes Edith Wilsons | 165 |
Alberta Hunter | 199 |
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Common terms and phrases
acts Afro-American ain't Alberta Hunter artists audiences baby band Bessie Smith black community Black Swan black women blues singers Blues Who's blues women Broadway cabaret career Chicago Defender Chippie church circuit Clara Smith colored Columbia Records comedy Daddy dance Detroit Edith Wilson Fletcher Henderson girl gonna Harlem Hersal Ibid Ida Cox Jazz Hounds Johnson label listener live Lizzie Miles Lucille Hegamin Ma Rainey Mama Mamie Smith Mind to Ramble moaning musicians Negro night October Okeh Records Paramount performed Perry Bradford phonograph Photo pianist piano play popular Queen race market Race Records Rainey Rainey's RCA Victor rendition revues sang Sara Martin sexual Shorty George show business singing the blues Sippie Wallace songs Spivey's stage star style sung talent Texas theaters Thomas tion TOBA train Trixie Smith vaudeville Victoria Spivey vocal voice Wallace's whiskey Wild Women York young