Female Blues Singers – Various Artists – Complete Recorded Works – Vol 12 M/O/P/Q/R (1922-1935)

DOCD-5516 Female Blues Singers Vol 12 M/O/P/Q/R 1922 – 1935 Genres: Blues, Classic Blues, Female Blues, Jazz. Informative booklet notes by David Evans Detailed discography.

Although all of the eleven artists appearing on this twelfth volume, of a superb fourteen volume series, would undoubtedly have been no strangers to the stages of the vaudeville circuit, the recordings of four of them are notable in the world of entertainment.

Hattie Mcdaniel was best known for her non-singing roles as a maid or �mammy� in films, radio and television beginning in the early 1930�s, including a spot in Gone With The Wind (1939) for which she became the first African American to win an Academy Award. Other recordings by Hattie can be found on Document CDs; DOCD-5089, DOCD-5341 and JPCD-1519. Anna Meyers is quite possibly the singer who emerged on records a year after the recordings presented here were recorded as Hazel Meyers a star in the touring show Steppin� High. Kathryn Perry�s single title is a 1935 radio performance with piano accompaniment by her husband Earl Hines. An article in the July 13th, 1929 edition of the Chicago Defender announced that Evelyn Preer was starring in an all-colored talkomedy� film called Framing of the Shrew. Unfortunately, the film, if it was ever made, has not survived. And the two rare sides performed by Nina Reeves, originally appeared on a Gennett Special record that the artist presumably sold at stage appearances.

The list of jazz musicians appearing here as accompanists is outstanding, including Lovie Austin, Mike McKendrick, Porter Grainger, King Oliver, Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley, Mike Jackson, Sonny Greer, Jesse Crump and many more.