Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey Poems

Ma Rainey Biography

Gertrude Pridgett, or Ma Rainey (April 26, 1886 - December 22, 1939) was one of the earliest known American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of such singers to record. She was billed as The Mother of the Blues. She did much to develop and popularize the form and was an important influence on younger blues women, such as Bessie Smith, and their careers. Pridgett began performing at 12–14. She recorded under the name Ma Rainey after she and Will Rainey were married in 1904. They toured with F.S. Wolcott’s Rabbit Foot Minstrels and later formed their own group called Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues. From the time of her first recording in 1923 to five years later, Ma Rainey made over 100 recordings. Some of them include, Bo-weevil Blues (1923), Moonshine Blues (1923), See See Rider (1924), Black Bottom (1927), and Soon This Morning (1927). Ma Rainey was known for her very powerful vocal abilities, energetic disposition, majestic phrasing, and a ‘moaning’ style of singing similar to folk tradition. Though her powerful voice and disposition are not captured on her recordings, the other characteristics are present, and most evident on her early recordings, Bo-weevil Blues and Moonshine Blues. Ma Rainey also recorded with Louis Armstrong in addition to touring and recording with the Georgia Jazz Band. Ma Rainey continued to tour until 1935 when she retired to her hometown.)

The Best Poem Of Ma Rainey

See The Rider

See see rider, see what you have done. Law’d, Law’d, Law’d, made me love you, now your gal has come. You made me love you, now your gal has come.
I’m goin away baby, I won’t be back ‘til fall. Law’d, Law’d, Law’d,
goin away baby, I won’t be back ‘til fall. If I find me a good man, won’t be back at all.
I’m gonna buy me a pistol, just as long as I am tall. Law’d, Law’d, Law’d, shoot my man, and catch a cannonball. If he won’t have me, he won’t have no gal at all.
See see rider, where did you stay last night? Law’d, Law’d, Law’d, your shoes ain’t buttoned, your clothes don’t fit you right. You didn’t come home ‘til the sun was shining bright….

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