Ma Rainey

Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was an American blues singer and influential 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. Rainey was known for her powerful vocal abilities, energetic disposition, majestic phrasing, and a "moaning" style of singing. Her qualities are present and most evident in her early recordings "Bo-Weevil Blues" and "Moonshine Blues". Gertrude Pridgett began performing as a teenager and became known as "Ma" Rainey after her marriage to Will "Pa" Rainey in 1904. They toured with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and later formed their own group, Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues. Her first recording was made in 1923. In the following five years, she made over 100 recordings, including "Bo-Weevil Blues", "Moonshine Blues", "See See Rider Blues", the blues standard "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", and "Soon This Morning".

Read more in the app

Nirvana, The Supremes, Nile Rodgers, Ma Rainey, Slick Rick Among 2023 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Denzel Washington Says He Could Tell Something Was Wrong While Chadwick Boseman Was Making "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Makes Oscars History With Makeup & Hairstyling Win

Taylour Paige Breaks Down Her Breakout Moment in 'Ma Rainey,' 'Boogie' and 'Zola' (Exclusive)

Chadwick Boseman Gets Posthumous Oscar Nomination for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'

Golden Globes 2021: Chadwick Boseman's widow makes emotional speech as he wins posthumous award

Chadwick Boseman’s Wife Accepts His Golden Globe Win For ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ In Tears

Branford Marsalis: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Soundtrack review – Chicago 1927 revisited

Viola Davis’ Trainer Reveals How Star Lost 15 Lbs. & Toned Up After Reaching 200 Lbs. For ‘Ma Rainey’

Viola Davis shares clip of Chadwick Boseman playing guitar on set of Ma Rainey's: 'A gift!'

Chadwick Boseman's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom costars say late actor 'learned to play the trumpet'

Chadwick Boseman takes home Best Actor for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Viola Davis "Broke Down" Hearing Ma Rainey Co-Star Chadwick Boseman Died

George C. Wolfe Transforms ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

Chadwick Boseman's last film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom officially released on Netflix

Chadwick Boseman In ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ & 6 Other Movies He Made During Cancer Battle

Chadwick Boseman's Final Role in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Released

Who Is Ma Rainey? How the 'Mother of the Blues' Became an Icon

Colman Domingo On Starring In ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'