Rainey, Ma (1886-1939), was one of the great blues singers of the early 1900’s. She also composed several popular blues songs, notably “Bo-Weavil Blues” and “Moonshine Blues” (both 1923). Rainey made a number of classic blues recordings with such famous jazz musicians as Louis Armstrong , Coleman Hawkins , and Tommy Ladnier. The great blues singer Bessie Smith was influenced and encouraged by Rainey while a member of Rainey’s traveling vaudeville company.
Rainey was born on April 26, 1886, in Columbus, Georgia. Her original name was Gertrude Pridgett. She began her career at the age of 14 in a Columbus talent show. About 1902, she began singing on stage in minstrel shows and tent shows. Minstrel shows are a form of entertainment featuring black musicians or white musicians with blackened faces, performing black music. In 1904, she married Will (Pa) Rainey, a fellow minstrel performer, and became known as Ma Rainey. They performed with various touring companies in the South. Ma Rainey made more than 100 records from her recording debut in 1923 until her last recording in 1928. The best known include “See See Rider” (1924), “Soon This Morning” (1927), and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (1927). She retired as a performer in 1935. Rainey died on Dec. 22, 1939. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a performer who had an early influence on rock music .
