Mississippi Matilda
(1914–1978)> BLUES SINGER
Mississippi Matilda Matilda Witherspoon, 27 January 1914; Hattiesburg, MS – 15 November 1978; Chicago, IL Born Matilda Witherspoon, the Mississippi blues singer married singer/guitarist Eugene Powell (aka Sonny Boy Nelson ) in 1935. The couple recorded for Bluebird the following year, with Matilda cutting four songs as vocalist, including the stirring “Hard Working Woman.” She separated from Powell in 1952 and moved to Chicago, where she spent her remaining years singing in the church. Gene…