Ma Rainey

Biography

Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, celebrated as the Mother of the Blues, took the American stage by storm with her commanding voice and daring lyrics, bringing the raw emotion of the Deep South to vaudeville houses and the earliest blues recordings.

She nurtured a generation of performers, sharing the spotlight with up-and-coming artists, and her bold artistry helped lay the foundation for the blues to become a cornerstone of American music.