Martha Copeland

Martha Copeland
Also known as Everybody's Mammy
Born Unknown
Died Unknown
Genres Classic female blues, gospel[1]
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1923–1928
Labels Columbia, Okeh, Victor

Martha Copeland was an American classic female blues singer, who recorded 34 songs between 1923 and 1928. Her best known offerings are "Everybody Does It Now," "Good Time Mama Blues" and "Sorrow Valley Blues." Promoted by Columbia Records as 'Everybody's Mammy',[2] her recordings did not sell in the quantities enjoyed by her label mates Bessie and Clara Smith.[3] Outside of her recording career, little is known of her life.[4]

Biography

Copeland's birth date is unknown, although Paul Oliver in his record sleeve notes to The Story of The Blues, Vol. 2, commented that she was in her forties when Victoria Spivey (born 1906) was in her teens.[5] Copeland started her recording career with Okeh in 1923, and appeared in a vaudeville revue, Shuffle Along. Her output veered between blues standards; mirror images of current popular tracks ("Soul and Body," in response to Coleman Hawkins's, "Body and Soul"); and comedic numbers ("I Ain't Your Hen, Mr. Fly Rooster" and "When The Wind Make Connection With Your Dry Goods").[1]

Her more notable accompanists at various recordings included Rube Bloom, Eddie Heywood, Lou Hooper, Cliff Jackson, James P. Johnson, and Louis Metcalf (all on piano), plus Bob Fuller (clarinet), and Bubber Miley (trumpet).[4]

Her total recording output is available on Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1923-1927), and Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1927-1928) (Document).[6] Various compilation albums also contain examples of Copeland's work.[1]

See also

Listen to

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eugene Chadbourne. "Martha Copeland | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  2. ↑ Stewart-Baxter, Derrick, 1970. Ma Rainey and the classic blues singers. London: Studio Vista. OCLC 250212516 p. 77.
  3. ↑ "Martha Copeland / Irene Scruggs Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  4. 1 2 "Martha Copeland". Redhotjazz.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  5. ↑ Album notes to The Story of The Blues, Vol. 2 - supporting Oliver's book, The Story of The Blues, published by Barrie and Rockliff, The Cresset Press
  6. ↑ "Martha Copeland | Discography". AllMusic. 1995-11-21. Retrieved 2014-01-27.

External links

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