Author : samepassage

Jelly Roll Morton, byname of Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe, (born Oct. 20, 1890, New Orleans, La., U.S.—died July 10, 1941, Los Angeles, Calif.), American jazz...

A Legacy of Blues and Resilience Ida Cox, one of the most distinguished classic blues singers of the 1920s, left an indelible mark on the...

Blind Lemon Jefferson was born in Coutchman, Texas, to a humble family. Losing his sight during infancy, Jefferson developed an exceptional sense of hearing and...

Victoria Spivey was one of the more influential blues women simply because she was around long enough to influence legions of younger women and men...

American singer Rosetta Tharpe is credited with popularizing gospel music among secular audiences during the 1930s and ’40s. Born in Arkansas in 1915, Sister Rosetta...

Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933, was an iconic American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her extraordinary talent and...

Mahalia Jackson was an American gospel singer widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century. Born on October 26, 1911, in...

Amos ‘n’ Andy is a landmark in American entertainment history, known for its transition from a popular radio show to a television series. Created by...

A Pioneer of Early 20th Century Music Lillyn Brown was a trailblazing figure in the early 20th-century music scene, leaving behind a remarkable legacy despite...

Eartha Kitt was an American singer, actress, and dancer who rose to fame in the 1950s. Born on January 17, 1927, in South Carolina, Eartha’s...