Lucille Bogan

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Blues

Status:

There are many compilations of her work available

See also:

Wikipedia's entry on Lucille Bogan

Comparisons:

Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie

Covers/own material:

Bessie Smith

General comments:

Lucille Bogan (she also recorded under the pseudonym Bessie Jackson) is an amazing blues singer from the 1920s and 1930s. In sound she's probably closest to Bessie Smith, though she definitely sings blues with her own flavour. Like Bessie, her songs range from the plaintive to the raunchy, from sad to celebratory to angry. She has an impressive, energetic delivery that comes to life despite the old and fuzzy source recordings. Both her lyrics and her interpretations are smart and sharp. There's nothing like her version of "Shave 'Em Dry."
     She was quite something, and if you have any interest in blues at all, I recommend you check her music out. (Neile)