Martha Copeland(c. 1891–1894; date of death unknown)[2]was an Americanclassic female bluessinger.She recorded 34 songs between 1923 and 1928. She was promoted byColumbia Recordsas "Everybody's Mammy",[3]but herrecordsdid not sell in the quantities achieved by the Columbia recording artistsBessie SmithandClara Smith.[4]Apart from her recording career, little is known of her life.[5]
Martha Copeland | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Martha Williams(possible) |
| Also known as | Everybody's Mammy |
| Born | c. 1891–1894(possible) Portsmouth, Virginia,United States |
| Died | Unknown |
| Genres | Classic female blues,gospel[1] |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1923–1928 |
| Labels | Columbia,Okeh,Victor |
Biography
editCopeland's birth date is unknown.Paul Oliver,in hisrecord sleevenotes toThe Story of the Blues, Vol. 2,suggested that she was in her forties whenVictoria Spivey(born 1906) was in herteens.[6]However, the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest that Copeland was bornMartha WilliamsinPortsmouth, Virginia,around 1891–1894.[2]
Copeland started her recording career withOkehin 1923 and appeared in avaudevillerevue,Shuffle Along.Her output includedblues standards,mirror images of current popular tracks ( "Soul and Body," in response toColeman Hawkins's "Body and Soul"), andcomedicnumbers ( "I Ain't Your Hen, Mr. Fly Rooster" and "When the Wind Make Connection with Your Dry Goods" ).[1]According to Eagle and LeBlanc, she may be the Martha Copeland who appeared in themusical comedyWoof, Woofin New York in 1929–1930.[2]
Her more notable accompanists on various recordings includedRube Bloom,Eddie Heywood, Sr.,Lou Hooper,Cliff Jackson,James P. Johnson,andLouis Metcalf(all onpiano),Bob Fuller(clarinet), andBubber Miley(trumpet).[5]
Her complete recordings are available onComplete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1923–1927)andComplete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1927–1928),issued byDocument Records.[7]Variouscompilation albumsalso contain examples of her work.[1]
See also
editListen to
editReferences
edit- ^abcChadbourne, Eugene."Martha Copeland: Biography".AllMusic.com.Retrieved2014-01-27.
- ^abcEagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).Blues: A Regional Experience.Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 525.ISBN978-0313344237.
- ^Stewart-Baxter, Derrick (1970).Ma Rainey and the Classic Blues Singers.London: Studio Vista. p. 77.OCLC250212516.
- ^"Martha Copeland / Irene Scruggs Biography".Oldies.com.Retrieved2014-01-27.
- ^ab"Martha Copeland".Redhotjazz.com.Retrieved2014-01-27.
- ^Album notes toThe Story of the Blues, Vol. 2,supporting Oliver's bookThe Story of the Blues.Barrie and Rockliff, Cresset Press.
- ^"Martha Copeland: Discography".AllMusic.com. 1995-11-21.Retrieved2014-01-27.