Ma Rainey Research Paper

The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century was an era of radical ideas that lead to the rapid creation and transformation of several new music genres including the blues. African-American were not allowed to record many songs until the rise of race records which were “records manufactured to present separate lines of material targeted at African American consumers” (Wald). There were several African-American women, including Gladys Bentley, Mamie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith, who have contributed to the creation and the rise of the blues and who transformed music for later generations.

During the late nineteenth century and early twentieth, several musical genres and types of entertainment became popular such as the blues. The blues was a musical genre that gained popularity during the 1910’s and 1920’s. The form of a common blues song consisted of twelve-bar form, would frequently use “call and response,” and moans or hollers in the song. Blues singing was either be acapella or accompanied by instruments that allowed performers to bend …show more content…
Rainey was discovered when she was twelve and started her career as a cabaret singer. In 1904, Rainey married Will Rainey and toured with him and the Wolcott’s Rabbit Foot Minstrels until the Rainey’s decided to start their own company. Bessie Smith joined the Rainey’s in 1912 and Rainey is considered Smith’s coach and role model. In 1923, Rainey was signed for a record deal with Paramount and made her first record, Bo-Weevil Blues. Rainey has influenced several artists, for example, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Bessie Smith. Rainey “set the stage in the early 20th century by celebrating their unconventionality, bisexuality, and racial pride; they were also instrumental in opening up the recording industry to African-Americans,” (Publishers Weekly) and Bessie Smith follows her example in later