Rainey, Ma, 1886-1939
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Ma Rainey (b. Gertrude Pridgett, April 26, 1886, Columbus, GA-d. Dec. 22, 1939, Rome, GA) was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. She was first exposed to blues music around 1902 and soon after formed the Alabama Fun Makers Company with her husband, Will Rainey. In 1906, both joined Pat Chappelle's Rabbit's Foot Company. Ma Rainey was discovered by Paramount Records producer J. Mayo Williams in 1923, signed a recording contract with them, and made eight recordings in Chicago. In 1924, she made recordings with Louis Armstrong and also toured with the Theater Owners Booking Association; bandleader and pianist Thomas Dorsey and the Wildcats Jazz Band accompanied her. Dorsey left the group in 1926 and was replaced as pianist by Lillian Hardaway Henderson.
Archival Resources
Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
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referencedIn | American Vaudeville Museum collection, 1845-2007, (bulk 1910-1940) | University of Arizona Libraries, Library Special Collections | |
creatorOf | Benemann, William,. William Benemann collection of sexuality and gender miscellany, 1953-2011. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
referencedIn | Crittendon, Willard David. Then see if I care : a childhood for Bessie Smith / by Willard David Crittendon. | Texas A&M University, Evans Library & Annex; Main campus library complex | |
referencedIn | Neat Stuff Collectables. Jazz Playbill Collection, 1923-1952. | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives | |
creatorOf | Rainey, Ma, 1886-1939. Barrel house blues [Multimédia multisupport]. | Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF | |
creatorOf | Rainey, Ma, 1886-1939. Barrel house blues. | Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF | |
referencedIn | Southern Folklife Collection Artist Name File, 1940-2005 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection. | |
referencedIn | Southern Folklife Collection Artist Name File, 1940-2005 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection. | |
referencedIn | Wilson, August. Ma Rainey's black bottom : a play in two acts / by August Wilson. | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis | |
referencedIn | Work, John Wesley (III)., 1901-1967. Papers. ca. 1944. | Tulane University, Amistad Research Center |
Showing 1 to 10 of 10 entries
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Relation | Name |
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associatedWith | American Museum of Vaudeville |
associatedWith | Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 |
associatedWith | Bechet, Sidney, 1897-1959 |
associatedWith | Benemann, William, |
associatedWith | Crittendon, Willard David. |
associatedWith | Cullen, Frank, 1936- |
associatedWith | Dorsey, Thomas Andrew |
associatedWith | Foster, Pops, 1892-1969 |
associatedWith | McNeilly, Donald, 1945- |
associatedWith | Oliver, King, 1885-1938 |
Showing 1 to 10 of 16 entries
Person
Birth 1886-04-26
Death 1939-12-22
Americans
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Variant Names
Pridgett, Gertrude, 1886-1939
Rainey, Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett, 1886-1939
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Rainey, Ma, 1886-1939
Rainey, Ma, 1886-1939 | Title |
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