Singer | All About Blues Music

DINAH WASHINGTON

Dinah Washington was probably the most popular R&B singer of the 50s. Raised in gospel; gifted with an immaculate sense of blues phrasing; equally at home in jazz, blues, R&B and pop, Dinah’s clear yet passionate delivery made her one of the biggest stars of the day and earned her the title ‘Queen of the…

ANGELA STREHLI

Singer and songwriter Angela has been an important part of the modern Texas Blues scene although, like so many of those old-timers who took the Sunset Route, she now lives on the West coast. Angela took an early interest in the Blues, learning to play bass and harp, and travelling to Chicago so she could…

RUTH BROWN

Ruth Weston sang Gospel in her father’s church before she joined Lucky Millinder‘s band while still a teenager. On the road, she married trumpeter Jimmy Brown, but a couple of years later she was fired from the band over an alcohol related incident. Ruth was one of Atlantic Records’ first signings, but her debut was…

IDA COX

Ida Cox was a Blues Diva of the 20s whose songs were specifically addressed to black women in their search for freedom, dignity and respect from society in general and from their men in particular. She was a highly talented lyricist, whose work was used by others in their own songs, so that many phrases…

SIPPIE WALLACE

Sippie Wallace knew about the Blues because she was part of its roots. She was one of the original Blues Divas; a talented young songwriter, a riveting performer and a most respected artist who became a best-seller in the early days of ‘race music‘, but she also knew about the suffering and loss that gives…

EVA TAYLOR

Irene Gibbons was born in St. Louis, but by the time she recorded her first Blues songs for the Black Swan label in New York in 1922, she had already had a long career. She toured with vaudeville troupes in the USA, Europe and the South Pacific beginning as a 3-year-old child. When she got…

ALBERTA HUNTER

Alberta Hunter had a truly remarkable career. She started out singing in Chicago clubs at the age of 12; she was one of the original big selling Blues Divas who also wrote Bessie Smith‘s first hit; she had a four decade stage and cabaret career; she toured the world in WWII entertaining the Forces; she…

DOROTHY MOORE

‘Misty Blue’ was a big cross-over hit for Dorothy in 1976, as the perfect vehicle for her Southern flavoured soul-blues voice. Born in Jackson MS, the daughter of Mississippi Blind Boys’ Melvin Hendrex, Dorothy began singing in Gospel choirs, eventually emerging as a soloist. As a student at Jackson State University she formed a girl-group…

KOKO TAYLOR

In 1962, Cora Walton was spotted in a Chicago club by Willie Dixon as she sang with her husband, ‘Pops’ Taylor. When he put Buddy Guy’s guitar behind her on his song ‘Wang Dang Doodle’, a million selling hit on the Chess label was the result, and ‘Koko Taylor’ had arrived on the scene. Her…

MAMIE ‘GALORE’ DAVIS

This feisty Mississippi lady knew she wanted to be a Blues singer, even as a schoolgirl. As soon as she was old enough, Mamie joined touring shows with Little Milton and Ike & Tina Turner before picking up her own deal with St. Lawrence Records in Chicago. Her soulful 1966 hit ‘It Ain’t Necessary’ was…