“I don’t sing the blues to feel good. The blues is a way of understanding life.” –
Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey
The Black Bottom Dance is a complex style of dance from the Jazz Age. It was originally performed by African Americans in the South, but soon spread during the dance craze of the twenties. Many variations of the dance and music to go with it have been performed. However, one of the most famous versions was recorded in 1927 by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey. August Wilson used the title of Rainey’s song Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, as the inspiration for his renowned play. |
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