Ma Rainey

She was born April 26, 1886 by the name of Gertude Pridgett in Columbus, Georgia. Her parents were a part of a minstrel troupers and their names were Thomas Pridgett Sr and Ella Allen-Pridgett. "Mother of the Blues" was the name that people knew her by and she performed during the first three decades of the 20th century. She was also the first to incorporate authentic blues in her songs. She performed as a singer and dancer in a talent show called "A Bunch of Blackberries" at the Springer Opera House in 1900. February 2, 1904 she married William "Pa" Rainey. They were named "Ma" and "Pa" Rainey and they toured Southern tent shows and cabarets. Daphane Harrison in the Black Pearls wrote: "Her ability to capture the mood and essence of black rural southern life of the 1920s, quickly endeared her to throngs of followers throughout the South". The is a very strong and powerful quote, it says a lot about Rainey and her type of music ability. She earned the reputation as a professional on stage and in business, which is something that other blues musicians didn't. She performed with her Wild Jazz Cats on the TOBA until 1926. After that year she recorded with various musicians on the Paramount label often under the name of Ma Rainey and her Georgia Jazz Band.

http://www.biography.com/people/ma-rainey-9542413

Ma Rainey: Deep Moaning Blues, 1928 AABA form. There is a band and her vocals in the song. In the band there are trumpet, a piano, and an instrument that is being plucked. The song has sort of a relaxing feel to it, its not to fast and its not to slow. Makes you feel like it was recorded during the summer time and Rainey is just relaxing telling a story.

It starts off with the first 2 counts of moaning
Verse 1: 8 counts, her vocals and horns
Verse 2: 8 counts, her vocals and hors
Chorus: its her moaning with horns, piano in the background for about 4 counts
Verse 3: There is an instrument that is being plucked while she sings



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-mRHNAeJXE