Already a Legend for Thirty-Five Years
In 1924, a recording company's talent scout 'discovered' Ma Rainey, signed her, and billed her as "Ma Rainey- Mother of the Blues." It must surely have amused Ma to know that, at the age of thirty-eight and already a legend among her own people, someone had at last discovered her. But it was now off to New York and Chicago and the recording studios. And we, of this later date, are the lucky ones. Ma Rainey made about ninety recordings for our listening pleasure.
Not A Pretty Woman But Dressed in Diamonds
Ma Rainey was short and dark. She was also plump and flashy. She must have liked diamonds because she could be seen with the glittering stones not only in her ears, but also around her neck, on her hands, and on her fingers. She is said to have been quite a sight to see with her necklaces of twenty, and sometimes, fifty-dollar gold pieces, all dressed up in dresses embroidered with rhinestones and sequins.
She wasn't pretty, far from it, but it never seemed to matter to those that knew and loved her, because when Ma Rainey opened her mouth and began to sing it was only her words and the music that mattered.
Singing About God and the Chain-Gang
And oh what music it was. Ma sang not only to the people but also about the people and their lives. She sang about the poor soul on the chain-gang, being poor and having nothing, as will as finding love and loosing it. Her songs were filled with God, love, and hatred, all rolled into one. And she sang about dying.
Ma Rainey Gets Discovered: Only Her Words and Music Mattered continues with Home to Columbus: Ma Rainey's Voice Heard For the Last Time.
Previous: Ma Rainey and Louis Armstrong: New Orleans and Storyville.
Recommended Reading:
Gabriel's Insurrection: A Slave's Plot for Freedom.
Slave Revolt: Bloody Mayhem Planned.
August Wilson 1945-2005: Playwright.
