Women and the Blues

Women and the Blues From classic blues singers such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith to modern blues singers such as Etta James and Koko Taylor, women have always been essential contributors to blues songwriting and singing. Though far less prevalent, there have also been some notable female blues instrumentalists, such as Memphis Minnie and Geechie Wiley and, more recently, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Deborah Coleman, all of whom have accompanied themselves on guitar. Throughout the “classic blues”…