Ma Rainey & Her Georgia Band

Ma Rainey

Source: Wikipedia

Born Gertrude Pridgett in Columbus, Georgia, on 26 April 1886, Ma Rainey ("Mother of the Blues") began her career as an adolescent in minstrel shows. She took the name, Ma Rainey, upon marrying Will Rainey in 1904, the same year both began touring with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. A decade later in 1914 they put together their own tent show called Rainey and Rainey.

Rainey released her debut recordings for Paramount, 'Bad Luck Blues' and 'Bo-Weavil Blues' in 1924, those among others per her first session in December, 1923, in Chicago. She was accompanied on those by the Blues Serenaders consisting of Tommy Ladnier (cornet), Jimmy O'Bryant (clarinet) and Lovie Austin (piano).

'Bad Luck Blues'   Ma Rainey   First recording

Session: First of 2 in Dec 1923 in Chicago   Matrix 1596-2   Paramount 12081

Cornet: Tommy Ladnier   Clarinet: Jimmy O'Bryant   Piano: Lovie Austin

Composition: Lovie Austin

'Bo-Weavil Blues'   Ma Rainey   Third recording

Session: First of 2 in Dec 1923 in Chicago   Second take on matrix 1597-2   Paramount 12080

(First take unissued excepting later compilations)

Cornet: Tommy Ladnier   Clarinet: Jimmy O'Bryant   Piano: Lovie Austin

Composition: Lovie Austin / Ma Rainey

'Moonshine Blues'   Ma Rainey

Session: Second of 2 in Dec 1923 in Chicago   Paramount 12083

Cornet: Tommy Ladnier   Clarinet: Jimmy O'Bryant   Piano: Lovie Austin

Composition: Ma Rainey

Being discovered by Paramount worked well for Rainey, she soon recording with big names to come in her Georgia Band. A session on October 15, 1924, found her with Don Redman on clarinet and Fletcher Henderson on piano for 'Booze and Blues', 'Toad Frog Blues' and 'Jealous Hearted Blues'. A session the next day found her with Louis Armstrong on cornet and Buster Bailey on clarinet for such as 'See See Rider' and 'Countin' the Blues'.

'Booze and Blues'   Ma Rainey & Her Georgia Band

Session: 15 Oct 1924 in NYC   Paramount 12242

Cornet: Howard Scott   Trombone: Charlie Green   Clarinet: Don Redman

Piano: Fletcher Henderson   Drums: Kaiser Marshall

Composition: Guy Suddoth

'Down in the Basement'   Ma Rainey & Her Georgia Band

Session: c Aug 1926 in Chicago   Paramount 12395

Cornet: Homer Hobson   Trombone: Albert Wynn

Alto sax / clarinet: Tom Brown   Soprano sax: Doc Cheatham

Piano: Lil Henderson   Banjo: Rip Bassett   Drums: Ben Thigpen

Composition: Strathdene Parham (Tiny Parham)

Pianist, Tommy Dorsey, supported Rainey on tracks in 1925 (: 'Army Camp Harmony Blues') and 1928 (: 'Daddy Goodbye Blues'). It was Dorsey and Tampa Red in September of 1928 for 'Leavin' This Mornin' and 'Black Eye Blues'. Rainey's operation had grown into a tour with her own bus bearing her name when Paramount suddenly determined her sound to be passé and dropped her after five years in 1928. She is thought to have made her last recordings in October and December of that year with Papa Charlie Jackson on banjo for ''Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues' and 'Big Feeling Blues'.

'Leavin' This Mornin''   Ma Rainey

Session: c Sep 1928 in Chicago   Paramount 12902

Piano: Thomas Dorsey   Guitar: Tampa Red

Composition: Ma Rainey

'Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues'   Ma Rainey   Penultimate recording

Session: c Oct 1928 in Chicago   Paramount 12718

Duet w Papa Charlie Jackson (banjo)

Composition: Ma Rainey / Davis

'Big Feeling Blues'   Ma Rainey   Final recording

Session: c Dec 1928 in Chicago   Paramount 12718

Duet w Papa Charlie Jackson (banjo)

Composition: Ma Rainey / Davis

Rainey toured until 1933 when she returned to Georgia to run a couple of theaters she had purchased. She died of heart disease on December 22, 1939, at 53 years of age.