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16 maj 2024 · Their stories of triumph, struggle, and unparalleled talent have left an indelible mark on the blues and its subsequent forms. Here are some of the most influential women who’ve made significant contributions to blues music.
30 lis 2023 · In this post, we’re going to take a look at the lives and careers of 15 of the greatest and most famous female blues singers of all time. Table of Contents. 1. Bessie Smith, the “Empress of the Blues,” was one of the highest-paid Black entertainers of her time.
These women played a significant role in shaping and popularizing blues music by breaking barriers as female musicians in a predominantly male-dominated industry. Their talent and influence helped bring recognition to the genre and paved the way for future generations of female musicians.
But you can hear many incredible, less-famous women of the blues appear in the Spotify playlist further up, in the company of more famous names like Bessie and Mamie Smith, Holiday, Joplin, Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey, Etta James, and Dinah Washington.
History can live through the modern blues woman. Listen to the original "At Last" as recorded by legend Etta James. Then, breathe in Teeny Tucker's rendition of the classic blues hit. Both interpretations are beautiful, and both reflect the spirit of the blues.
Classic blues were performed by female singers accompanied by pianists or small jazz ensembles and were the first blues to be recorded. Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, and the other singers in this genre were instrumental in spreading the popularity of the blues.
As R&B shouters came to dominate the field, Classic Female Blues singers disappeared altogether, however the example of Bessie Smith is still felt strongly in the work of 1960s rock artist Janis Joplin.
