Exam #2 - Women in Blues, Territory Bands, and Pre- and Post-War Chicago Blues Flashcards
(38 cards)
Who was Bessie Smith? (recorded 1923-1933)
“Queen of the blues”; best known of the classic blues singers; major influence on many, including Janis Joplin; recorded 100+ records for Columbia; died under tragic alleged racist circumstances in a Mississippi car accident; “Gimmie a Pigfoot” and “Kitchen Man”
People of color, no matter how famous, were…
not immune from the prejudice that existed at the time.
Who was Ma Rainey? (recorded 1923-1928)
“Mother of the blues”; laid the groundwork for classic blues with her Blue Flame Syncopators; Mentor for Bessie Smith; “See See Rider”
What did the term “classic blues” generally refer to?
the first wave of blues recordings, all featuring women; musically derived from country blues and jazz, vaudevillian in presentation; performed on theatrical stages or traveling tent shows; elaborate sets and fancy costumes; Blues Divas
Who was Mamie Smith? (recorded 1920-1931)
With the help of Perry Bradford, first recording by a black performer for black record buyers, 1920; beginning of the “race” record concept; “That Thing Called Love” established the blues genre and paved the way for African American musical expression
Who was Memphis Minnie? (recorded throughout 1930s-50s)
Lizzie Douglas; one of few classic era blues women who accompanied herself on guitar; vocalist and songwriter whose recording career lasted over three decades; recorded around 200 songs; “Bumble Bee” and “Nothing in Rambling” and “Me and My Chauffeur Blues”
Describe the “TOBY” Circuit.
Theater Owners Booking Agency, the T.O.B.A (Tough on Black Asses); loose organization of theaters nationwide that offered a chain of performance venues for black entertainers; grueling demands and schedule; eventually displaced by Chitlin Circuit (same thing, different time)
What were territory bands?
dance combos associated with particular regions or cities; NY, NO, and KC especially known for their own brand of music
Describe the Kansas City Jazz “Stomps” and Blues Shouters.
KC important to rock’n’roll for heavy-on-the-rhythm stomping style of jazz; pioneered by Benny Moten in the 30s, Count Basie picked it up in 40s and 50s; had big-voiced male lead singers like Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner
Who was Cab Calloway? (recorded in the 1930s-40s)
a pioneer of the “territory band” style in KC
Who was Charlie Christian? (recorded in the 1930s-40s)
a pioneer of the “territory band” style in KC; was the first to use the guitar as the lead instrument
Who was Benny Goodman?
“King of Swing”; incorporated black band members in band as a white artists
Who was Count Basie? (recorded in 1940s-50s)
picked up Moten’s standard during his recordings; brought a blues influence into jazz, with an economic style
Who was Benny Moten? (recorded in 1930s)
the pioneer of Kansas City’s heavy-on-the-rhythm stomping style of jazz
Who was T-Bone Walker?
had a blues structure with a different kind of feel; inspired by Charlie Christian; bridged the worlds of jazz and blues; developed a style of lead electric guitar playing that defined how the instrument would be played in both blues and rock’n’roll; major influence to B.B. King
Who was Louis Jordan? (recorded 1938-42)
small combo pioneer (from big bands to small combos); established foundation of early rock’n’roll ensembles; popularized role of saxophone as lead instrument; sense of humor in his music
Who was Jimmy Rushing?
a big-voiced male lead singer from KC “territory bands”; influenced later R&B vocalists and Elvis Presley
Describe Pre-War Chicago Blues (from 1930s to mid-1940s).
Chicago became a vast talent pool and central location, becomes the nation’s primary blues recording center; relative prosperity of working class blacks makes for substantial buying market
Who were J. Mayo Williams and Lester Melrose?
key entrepreneurs on the Chicago scene; served as producers, link to major labels like Decca, Vocalion, RCA/Bluebird; Williams was black and associated with a small but important race label; Melrose was white and parlayed record store into a career as a producer; they were responsible for hundreds of important urban blues recordings during the pre-war era
What was the influence of pre-war Chicago blues to rock’n’roll?
the small combos of pre-war Chicago blues set pattern for standard early rock band configuration: lead vocalist backed by piano, guitar, bass, drums and sometimes harmonica; introduced harmonica and prominence of guitar as lead instrument
What are some notable Decca Artists of the late 30s and early 40s?
Peetie “The Devil’s Son-in-Law” Wheatstraw; Jay McShann (KC); Sam Price; Cousin Joe (NO); Big Bill Broonzy; Kokomo Arnold (influenced both Robert Johnson and Elvis Presley)
What are some notable Bluebird Blues artists from the late 30s to mid 40s?
Washboard Sam; Roosevelt “the Honey Dripper” Sykes; Doctor Clayton; Big Maceo; Tommy McClennan; Sonny Boy Williamson; Jazz Gillum; Tampa Red
Who was Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup?
source of Presley’s first big hit “That’s Alright Mama”
Who was Willy Dixon? (recorded 1940s)
bass player and vocalist in pre-war blues configuration; became most important writer, producer of post-war Chicago blues, including for Muddy Water and Howlin’ Wolf; played on the myth and story-telling of music
