The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #138519 Message #3172539
Posted By: pdq
18-Jun-11 - 05:02 PM
Thread Name: 10 Trailblazing Female Musicians
Subject: RE: 10 Trailblazing Female Musicians
Perhaps people will do a little research concerning Ethyl Waters and Mamie Smith.
The latter had the first "million seller" by a Black artist, male or female. She made the records companies realize that "race records" were a viable business. All that followed owe her something.
Waters was one of the most popular music hall performers of her time and enjoyed a wide following on both sides of the color barrier.