12’ Bar Ramblin’ #69 'Blues Queens vol.III' with Stefan Matussek 08.03.2022

The history of popular blues music begins in the early 20th century. These early
pioneers performed what was known as ‘vaudeville blues’ (an amalgam of
traditional folk blues and urban theatre music), that introduced a new audience
to a then still relatively obscure form of music. Ma Rainey was the first to
perform the blues on stage in 1902, while Mamie Smith was the first blues
vocalist to be recorded in 1920. Female artists have been integral to the Blues
genre since the very beginning. In celebration of international women’s day,
this episode is dedicated to female blues performers from all eras.