This story of women’s music is not very long. At the turn of the century, in America, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was considered a heroine to Africans emerging from the harsh reality of enslavement. Rainey expressed her personal freedom in songs like, “Daddy Goodbye Blues” and “Don’t Fish In My Sea” written with Bessie Smith. Rainey recorded 100 songs between 1923 and 1928 on Paramount Records.

For more information on 40 blues and jazzwomen, see my book Amazing Musicwomen available at http://stores.lulu.com/divajc

See all of Joan Cartwright’s books at www.fyicomminc.com/books.html