Ma Rainey (1886-1939) known as ‘the mother of the blues’ was the first black professional blues vocalist.
Born Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett in Columbus, Georgia, on April 26, 1886, Pridgett first appeared on stage in Columbus at the age of fourteen. She joined a traveling vaudeville troupe, the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, which described itself as “the leading Negro show in America”.
She began singing in a blues style in 1902, after hearing a blues song at a theater in St. Louis, Missouri. She claimed at that time that she was the one who coined the name “blues”. In 1904, she married fellow Rabbit’s Foot member, William “Pa” Rainey, and began billing herself as Ma Rainey.
Ma Rainey’s musical style was the “down-home” or “country” blues. It was more raw and direct than the blues we know today. In fact, there weren’t always words; sometimes there was just a rising and falling moan in which the audience would join. Ma Rainey didn’t often have a skilled jazz band to accompany her, but a primitive assemblage of jugs, kazoo, banjo, tinny piano and musical saw. The down-home blues songs were largely improvised, seldom written.
Ma Rainey reached the peak of her fame in the 1920s when the phonograph and radio offered jazz and blues to the masses. Rainey signed with Paramount Records and between 1923 and 1928, she recorded nearly 100 songs. Most of them were hits. It was during this time that she also collaborated with country blues musicians and other black jazz players such as Louis Armstrong, Tommy Ladnier, Fletcher Henderson, Lovie Austin, Coleman Hawkins and Buster Bailey.
In 1925, Ma Rainey was arrested in Chicago for hosting an ‘indecent party’ with a room full of semi-naked women. Considered a bisexual, Rainey celebrated the lesbian lifestyle in “Prove It On Me Blues”:
Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,
They must have been women, ’cause I don’t like no men.
It’s true I wear a collar and a tie, Make the wind blow all the time
They say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me, Sure got to prove it on me.
In most of her songs, Ma Rainey projected herself as a passionate and often mistreated lover of men. In private, her preference was for young men. The poet Sterling Brown recalled of approaching her as a fan with the musicologist John Work. She immediately propositioned them as she was having trouble with her young musicians and Brown wrote a moving poem about Ma Rainey and her huge popularity with Southern audiences.
In 1928, Rainey recorded two vocal duets with Papa Charlie Jackson, which were her last recordings. Paramount terminated her contract shortly after, claiming that her material had gone out of style.
Ma Rainey retired from performing in 1933 and returned to Columbus, where she joined Friendship Baptist Church and gave her voice to the choir. A friend from those days recalled, “With love she gave money, food, and clothing to the needy. For all she would come onto the porch here in Columbus and sing not the blues, but hymns, anthems, spirituals, and patriotic songs. She diverted her energies to the crusade which dealt with the hereafter instead of the present age.”
Ma Rainey owned and operated two Georgia theaters until her death on December 22, 1939, at the age of 53. Rainey died of a heart attack and at the time, her death was little noticed.
In 1983, Ma Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame; seven years later, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In the summer of 1992, the city of Columbus restored her home and nominated it for a place in the National Register.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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didnt know that, thanks j…lol!
Great work, CL!!! Keep it up!!!
It’s beautiful that she changed her life and devoted it toward God. Thanks Cl for the info- I only heard of her by name but never knew her life story.
I think its great that she gave money and food
and sang for the less fortunate.
if more people do that in these days,
the world would be such a better place
Great Black History Moment. Thanks CL!
its good she gave money and food these entertainers today need to look back more on there history, the economy is in a recession and we as people need to help eachother more than ever now and the rappers and such steady on tv flash those big ass ugly chains and talking about how they ballin’….
J,
Everytime I read the Black History Spotlight I feel so inspired and proud to be an African-American young women. I learn more on this site about my people than I ever did in a grammar or high school classroom and I have you to thank for that.
Thanks a lot!
Thats really good to know she gave her life to the Lord after. Everyone needs to do that. ‘Repent for the Kingdom is at hand’.
Much respect to her ..they should mention Sammy Davis Junior, Mango Santamaria, and Miles Davis.
This is why your the best CL…… thats all im gonna say.
Thanks, this was a great reading. I didn’t know this occurred.
I looooove these post.
Great history about one of the pioneers of blues. So many people think what they are singing today is blues and it doesnt even come close! Thanks CL for shining some light on this topic
Thanks for the info. Mr. Dakar, Keep up the good work with giving us our black history lessons this is really good and more “black” sites need to do this you are one of the reasons I come back to this site.
Truly amazing. I wonder what our kids in the future will consider Black History when they reflect on the African American’s making headlines today. smh
Also a play about her called “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was on Broadway or if mistaken off Broadway. I think I heard of a possible revival of the play. I love the black history features. Very positive. So many people do not know anything about history especially there own. Kudos!!
I just wanted to say I think y’all are great for continuing to post black history spotlights even though the average idiot probably scrolls right past it and onto the celebrity pics and gossip. It’s very important to continue to remember and honor the memories of legends that paved the way for us. It is informative, inspiring and, to me, vitally important to not only read these but reflect upon them. Concrete Loop y’all have all my respect for that. Keep it coming!
Great post J.
Never heard about her, she gave us so much in music. I wish I could find some of her music so I put the voice with the face. However, you all keep saying how great it is that she gave herself up to the Lord but yet fail to realize that she was still bisexual. SMH. It doesn’t matter if she did give herself up to the Lord if she was still continuing living a lifestyle that goes contrary to what the Bible says.
I HEARD ABOUT HER WHEN I WAS A LIL GIRL. I’VE READ SOME OF HER SONG LYRICS….. HER LYRICS WERE SO RAW AND PROVOCATIVE, SHE COULD MAKE LIL KIM AND ADINA HOWARD BLUSH…. SHE IS THE ORIGINATOR OF TALKING ABOUT SEX AND BI-SEXUALITY IN SONGS…..I LOVE HER.
Keep it coming. This why I come to your site, you are always giving us some history.
I personally think the Black History Spotlights are the best part of the CL!! I love them they’re always so informative. I never knew of Ma Rainey, I’m glad I do now!!
……thanks CL for putting columbus,ga on the map!!!!! I was shocked that she was bi- I am hoping when she gave her life to the lord she stopped being bi….GOD is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!
The life of this woman seems amazing. I bet it would it make a great film.
@21 She didn’t that why I think it is stupid for her to turn to a life of God.
“FAUX NEWS ONCE AGAIN PROVING WHY THEY ARE THE SKID MARKS ON THE UNDERPANTS OF SOCIETY”
So I was over at Huffingtonpost.com
and was pretty disturbed at something I read…Now I knew Faux news was bad..but I didn’t know it was this bad. They have already had to fire an anchor woman for referring to Barack and Michelle’s fist bump as a “terrorist fist jab.” Now some other simple ass chick has called Michelle, “Barack’s Baby Mama”… I think we really need to do something about this news.
HERE’S THE LINK
http://www.huffingtonpost...-michelle-o_n_106655.html
I also wanted you all to read a letter (that i saw over at jackandjillpolitics.com) to the supposed “Pro- feminist Hillary supporters. Meaning those who are threatening to vote for Mcsame in Nov. over Barack. It’s from Tim Wise, one of my favorite political/social activist and writers.
http://www.jackandjillpol...im-wise-stirring-pot.html
I HAVE THAT PAINTING IN MY HOUSE.. AND I JUST FOUND OUT WHO THE PEOPLE IN THE PAINTING ARE THANK U. IF ANY ONE WANTS TO SEE THE PAINTING JUST EMAIL ME!! GROSSIN_IT@YAHOO.COM
wow, I remember seeing the play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom when I was a child! That was such a great performance, I remember like it was yesterday!!
I loved reading this history about Ma Rainey. I never knew much about her, but have heard mention of her name and seen her face in passing.
In regards to the bisexuality bit and the whole “give your life to Christ” thing. Please remember that heaven or hell is not a place that you can put someone else in.
@27 I didn’t understand that last part.
^^^^ your bisexual comment that is.
There was also a play written about her loosely called “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” I was casted in it.
Ma Rainey representin’ Columbus, Georgia (where I attend college!)
learned something new today! thanks CL!
Thanks J. Dakar for this post. CL you all are doing it big keep up the great work!
Did Elvis rip her off, too?
Some one needs to write about Arturo Schromburg and the biggest Black Museum in NYC….that would be great for black history!!! (and Latino/Black History)
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i love these spotlights.
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