Learn more about her golden teeth or friendship with Bessie Smith
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
“Went out last night with a crowd of my friends… They must’ve been women, ’cause I don’t like no men.” These are the words of the Mother of the Blues, Ma Rainey, who was not only a musical icon but a queer one too.
Ma Rainey left a legacy that’s as gutsy and groundbreaking as her voice. Bursting onto the scene in the 1920s, she turned raw, lived experience into art. She carved out space for women – especially Black women – to own their stories.
Here are some facts you may not know about this legend.
Her love of glitz and glamour nearly got her thrown in jail
Decked out in tiaras and satin dresses, Ma Rainey was known for being absolutely fabulous. She was even known to have her teeth capped with gold, meaning her smile would sparkle when she’d sing. However, there was a time when her love for jewellery got her in trouble when she accidentally bought stolen diamonds. She actually got put in jail while on tour for transporting stolen goods across state lines, and her band tried to put an impersonator on stage while she was locked up.
She inspired a character in The Color Purple
If you love Alice Walker’s book The Color Purple, it won’t surprise you that Shug Avery was inspired by Ma Rainey. Embodying the jazz and blues swagger of Ma Rainey, Shug Avery has become a firm LGBTQIA+ favourite character.
She recorded nearly 100 tracks in just five years
They don’t call Ma Rainey the Mother of the Blues for nothing! After being signed to Paramount Records, Ma Rainey recorded nearly 92 songs – a third of which she wrote herself. Songs included Dead Drunk Blues, Don’t Fish In My Sea and New Boweavil Blues.
Bessie Smith once bailed her out of jail
It’s no surprise that Bessie Smith – The Empress of the Blues – and Ma Rainey became firm friends. Ma Rainey is often believed to be the person who introduced Bessie to sapphic relationships. Both Bessie and Ma Rainey were frequent visitors to “buffet flats”, which were illegal party houses. Ma Rainey hosted a women-only party in 1925 while on tour, which led to her arrest for throwing an “indecent party”. The next morning, Bessie bailed her out, and some people theorise that this night inspired the track Prove It On Me Blues.
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