Mother of the Blues: A Study of Ma Rainey

by Sandra R. Lieb

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Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1983

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Lieb's study of Ma Rainey - the first book-length study, in fact - is well worth reading for anyone interested in the blues. It's also well-worth reading for those interested in feminism and for those investigating the transformation of African American culture during the early twentieth century. Lieb published this book in 1981, and it is difficult to understand why it took so long for a biography of Rainey to emerge, especially when we consider that her popularity in the 1920s was as great as that of Bessie Smith's. The two, in fact, were by far the most popular blues acts of that time. Lieb explains that Rainey's recordings were all cheaply produced at Paramount Records, unlike Smith's recordings at different labels that used more sophisticated recording techniques than Paramount, notorious for its cheapness. This prevented a sustained interest in Rainey's work until the blues revival of the 1960s. Lieb's biographical and historical research is comprehensive and fascinating; where she falls is in her odd and occasionally even prim readings of Rainey's records. It is still an imminently readable text, however, and Lieb's high regard for Rainey is evident.