God Rock Radio #175 – Women and The Blues – Part 1

In celebration of GRR’s 175th program, noted music historian -Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia returns the show to its roots and finally completes the popular and acclaimed blues trilogy. A series of programs begun during the first season (GRR #6) and continued during the second (GRR #18). Jack examines the evolution of the blues during the early 20th century and its link to the development of the 78 rpm phonograph record. As black women veterans of the minstrel shows and the vaudeville circuit became popular blues performers during the infancy of the genre. Well known ladies of the blues like Mamie Smith, Trixie Smith, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith – who dressed in expensive sequined gowns and belted out timeless blues songs that sold well and had crossover success with both black and white audiences. Next up its the lesser known more obscure and mysterious women of the blues (Ida Cox, Mary Smith Johnson, Little Alice Moore, Bessie Tucker, Fannie May Goosby and Lucille Bogan) whose recordings would have little impact at the time but would have a lasting influence on the genre. Gifted blues poets who incorporated religious imagery , unbridled female sexuality and proto-feminism into their music.

Six Tracks hit forward to advance.

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