Ada Scott Brown(May 1, 1890 – March 30, 1950)[1]was an Americanbluesandjazzsingerand actress. She is best known for her recordings of "Ill Natural Blues," "Break o' Day Blues," and "Evil Mama Blues."[1]
Ada Brown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ada Scott Brown |
| Born | May 1, 1890 Kansas City, Kansas,United States |
| Died | March 30, 1950(aged 59) Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1919–1950 |
Biography
editBrown was born and raised inKansas City, Kansas.[1]She was born into a musically inclined family, and grew up singing in church as a child. In 1910, she was able to successfully launch her career atBob Motts'Pekin Theatrein Chicago.[2]Her cousinJames Scottwas aragtimecomposer and pianist.[3]Her early career was spent primarily on stage inmusical theaterandvaudeville.She worked in clubs in Paris and Berlin before beginning to focus on recording.[2]She recorded withBennie MotenandMary H. Bradfordin 1923; the track "Evil Mama Blues" is possibly the earliest recording ofKansas City jazz.[3]Aside from her time with Moten, she did several tours alongside bandleaders such asGeorge E. Lee.[3]Her tours took place in theaters through the United States and Canada. During this time, Brown also appeared in blackrevuesand musical comedies up and downBroadway.[2]
Brown was a founding member of theNegro Actors Guild of Americain 1936.[3]with the goal of eliminating the stereotyping of African Americans in theatrical and cinematic performances. She worked withFredi Washington,Leigh Whipper,and others to provide financial and social resources for African American entertainers.[4]She worked at theLondon Palladiumand onBroadwayin the late 1930s.[3]She sang "That Ain't Right"withFats Wallerin the musical filmStormy Weather(1943).[5]
Brown was regularly reviewed in theblack pressfrom 1920 to 1929 as her career continued to grow in vaudeville theaters. Unlike country bluesmen who accompanied themselves on acoustic guitar and harmonica, she worked withjazz pianiststo give her songs a beat. Her style of blues was known as “blues wedded to jazz.”[6]She also appeared inHarlem to Hollywood,accompanied by pianist Harry Swannagan.[3]Brown was featured on two tracks of thecompilation albumLadies Sing the Blues( "Break o' Day Blues" and "Evil Mama Blues" ).[7][8]One of her last appearances was in Memphis Bound, shortly before her retirement.[2]
Brown died in Kansas City ofkidney diseasein March 1950.[1]
Discography
edit| Title | Other Artists | Record Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Chattanooga Blues" | Bennie Moten Orchestra | Okeh Recording Company | 1923 |
| "Evil Mama Blues" | Bennie Moten Orchestra | Okeh Recording Company | 1923 |
| "Ill-Natured Blues" | Bennie Moten Orchestra | Okeh Recording Company | 1923 |
| "Break O’Day Blues" | Bennie Moten Orchestra | Okeh Recording Company | 1924 |
| "Waco Texas Blues" | Bennie Moten Orchestra | Okeh Recording Company | 1924 |
| "Tia Juana Blues" | Luis Russell& Orchestra | Classics Records | 1926 |
| "Panama Limited Blues" | Luis Russell & Orchestra | Classics Records | 1926 |
| "Down Home Dance" | Porter Grainger | Okeh Recording Company | 1929 |
| "Crazy ‘Bout My Lollypop" | Porter Grainger | Okeh Recording Company | 1929 |
| "That Ain’t Right" | Fats Weller | V-Disc | 1943[9] |
References
edit- ^abcd"The Dead Rock Stars Club – The 50s and Earlier".Thedeadrockstarsclub.Retrieved20 November2014.
- ^abcd"Ada Brown".Big Train and the Loco Motives.3 May 2024.Retrieved12 November2024.
- ^abcdefBob McCann (2009).Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television.McFarland & Company.p. 58.ISBN9780786458042.
- ^Joseph Bernardo (30 December 2008)."Negro Actors Guild of America".Black Past.Retrieved12 November2024.
- ^Ada Brown and Fats Wallerperforming "That Ain't Right" fromStormy Weather(1943) - online video
- ^McGuire, Phillip (1986)."Black Music Critics and The Classic Blues Singers".The Black Perspective in Music.14(2): 105.ISSN0090-7790.Retrieved12 November2024.
- ^Russell, Tony (1997).The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray.Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 199.ISBN1-85868-255-X.
- ^Phares, Heather."Ladies Sing the Blues [ASV/Living Era]".AllMusic.Retrieved20 November2014.
- ^Eugene Chadbourne."Ada Brown".AllMusic.Retrieved13 November2024.