Table of Contents
Who was considered the mother of the blues?
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (née Pridgett; April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) was an influential American blues singer and early blues recording artist. Dubbed the “Mother of the Blues”, she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers.
Who was Ma Rainey the blues singer?
Ma Rainey, née Gertrude Pridgett, (born April 26, 1886, Columbus, Georgia, U.S.—died December 22, 1939, Columbus), American singer who was known as the “mother of the blues” and who was recognized as the first great professional blues vocalist.
Who is Ma Rainey based on?
Mae is based on Rainey’s real-life rumored girlfriend and chorus girl, Bessie Smith. She recorded with names like Thomas Dorsey and Louis Armstrong. She toured across the country until 1935, when she essentially retired.
Who was Gertrude Rainey 1886 1939?
Businesswoman and entertainer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, known as the Mother of Blues, was the most popular blues singer/ songwriter of the 1920s. She is considered to be the first woman to introduce blues into her performances.
Was Ma Rainey a true story?
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Shows the True Story Of a Musician Determined to Live On Her Own Terms. What you may not know is the true story behind the project, which concerns a once-in-a-generation musician ahead of her time—a woman determined to control her art and her life on her own terms.
Is Ma Rainey movie real?
Produced by Denzel Washington and starring Viola Davis, the movie centers around real-life blues pioneer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey on the day that she and her band record a song called “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
How old is Rainey?
53 years (1886–1939)
Ma Rainey/Age at death
Rainey passed away from heart disease on December 22, 1939 at the age of 53. Tischler, Barbara L. “Rainey, Ma (26 April 1886–22 December 1939), vaudeville, blues, and jazz singer and self-proclaimed “Mother of the Blues”.” American National Biography.
Did Ma Rainey really have silver teeth?
Yes, Ma Rainey did have gold teeth. Dorsey, who was dubbed the “Father of Gospel Music,” often worked with Ma in the 1920s. He said, “When she started singing, the gold in her teeth would sparkle.” He added, “She was in the spotlight.