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Black History Month: Women on the edge of blues and rock

Wed, Feb 18, 2026

Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and more!

Show archive

Playlist

Big Mama Thornton, “They Call Me Big Mama”

from Partnership Blues

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sam Price Trio, The Dependable Boys, “Down By The Riverside”

from Gospel Train (Expanded Edition)

Memphis Minnie, “Kissing in the Dark”

from In The Dark

Big Maybelle, “Gabbin' Blues”

from I've Got a Feelin' - Okeh & Savoy Recordings 1952-56

Etta James, “Good Rockin' Daddy”

from Heart & Soul: A Retrospective

Ruth Brown, “5-10-15 Hours”

from Ruth Brown

Sally Doston, Smoky Babe, Hillary Blunt, “Your Dice Won't Pass”

from Country Negro Jam Session

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “What Have I Done”

from The Decca Singles, Vol. 4

Ma Rainey, “ma Rainey's Black Bottom”

from Presenting Ma Rainey

Bessie Smith, “Young Woman's Blues”

from The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3

Big Memphis Ma Rainey, “Baby, No, No!”

from Call Me Anything, but Call Me / Baby, No, No!

LaVern Baker, “Back Water Blues”

from Sings Bessie Smith

Gaye Adegbalola, “Prove It On Me Blues”

from Bitter Sweet Blues

Ida Cox, Coleman Hawkins Quintet, “Wild Women Don't Have The Blues”

from Blues For Rampart Street

Rhiannon Giddens, “One Hour Mama”

from Music from The American Epic Sessions (Deluxe)

Elizabeth Cotten, Brenda Evans, “Shake Sugaree”

from Shake Sugaree

Odetta, “Hogan's Alley”

from Odetta And The Blues

Victoria Spivey, “Detroit Moan”

from Snake Swing

Dinah Washington, “Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair”

from The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol.5 (1956-1958)

Irma Thomas, “Sufferin' With The Blues”

from Wish Someone Would Care

LaVern Baker, “You'd Better Find Yourself Another Fool”

from Find Yourself

Marie Adams, Bill Harvey's Band, “I'm Gonna Play The Honky Tonks”

from Men Are Like Street Cars - Women Blues Singers 1928 - 1969

Lil Green, “What Have I Done? - Remastered”

from Romance In The Dark

Koko Taylor, “I'm A Little Mixed Up”

from What It Takes: The Chess Years

Wynona Carr, “Please Mr. Jailer”

from Jump Jack Jump!

Alberta Hunter, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find”

from Amtrak Blues

Lillian Offitt, “Miss You So - Single Version”

from Men Are Like Street Cars - Women Blues Singers 1928 - 1969

Lula Reed, “Your Love Keeps A Working On Me”

from Risque Blues - It Ain't The Meat

Tiny Topsy, “Aw ! Shucks Baby”

from Just A Little Bit: Federal's Queens Of New Breed R&B

Sugar Pie DeSanto, “Maybe You'll Be There”

from In The Basement: The Chess Recordings

Esther Phillips, “Cherry Wine”

from Better Beware

Barbara Lynn, “You Don't Have To Go”

from You'll Lose A Good Thing

Baby Washington, “Congratulations Honey”

from Rock and Roll Vixens, Vol. 6

Julia Lee, “Tell Me, Daddy”

from Snatch and Grab It

Annie Laurie, “Hand In Hand”

from It Hurts To Be In Love

Marylin Scott (Mary Deloatch), “Life Was A Burden”

from Carolina Blues & Gospel (1945-1951)