Barbara Blue

Barbara Blue

Barbara Blue hails originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but she first began performing in 1997 at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale Street in Memphis. Continuing to perform there five nights a week

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Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt

Singer, songwriter, activist and guitarist Bonnie Raitt was born into a musical family, and was given her first guitar at the age of eight, Raitt, kick-starting her musical journey. During

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Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin (1943–1970) was born in the oil town of Port Arthur, Texas and inspired by early blues artists such as Bessie Smith, she left school to try and become

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Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples

Staples was born in Chicago in 1939. She began singing with her family, known as the Staple Singers, at churches and on local radio. Her father “Pops” was a friend

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Etta James

Etta James

Etta James (1938–2012), born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, was one of the most influential singers of this century. From the age of five, she learned how to sing. Her

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Willie Mae Thornton

Willie Mae Thornton

Willie Mae Thornton (1926–1984) earned her name “Big Mama” for her big stage presence and even bigger voice. Born in Alabama, she spent her early years singing in church with

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915–1973) was an American singer, most famous for popularizing gospel music in the 1930s and 40s. Her musical style combined powerful gospel vocals with a guitar and

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Victoria Spivey

Victoria Spivey

Victoria Spivey (1906–1976) was an American blues singer and songwriter born in Houston, Texas. Known throughout her career as “Queen Victoria”, she came from a musical family: her father was

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Sippie Wallace

Sippie Wallace

Sippie Wallace (1898–1986), born Beulah Belle Thomas, was a singer-songwriter. Wallace began performing from the age of just seven, playing the piano and singing for the church. By night, she

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Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie (1897–1973), born Lizzie Douglas, was a blues vocalist, songwriter and guitarist. Hailing from a family of sharecroppers in Mississippi, she learnt to play the guitar and the banjo

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Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith (1894–1937) was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 15th April 1894. She had a passion for music from a young age and grew up performing on the streets with

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Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey (1886-1939) was one of the first African-American professional blues singers. Born Gertrude Pridgett, she began performing as a teenager in black minstrel shows, where she met her husband,

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