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Victoria Spivey JS 16

Page history last edited by Juliette 8 years, 11 months ago

Influences

 

Victoria Spivey was influenced by Ida Cox, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bessie Smith, and Sara Martin. Spivey was, like many female singers in the 20's, unafraid of suggestive lyrics, recording songs like "Organ Grinder Blues". This would jump start her revival in the 60's. Spivey was born into a musical family, at age 12 she left home to play piano and sing at saloons and gambling dens, meeting and playing with many extraordinary blues legends such as Blind Lemon Jefferson. She took queues from powerful women in Blues and wrote her own, hard hitting lyrics discussing sexism, poverty, racism, and other political issues. This strong, bold start left her ready to keep recording for many decades.

Her first hit Black snake blues, established her style and remarkably bold lyricism, using very few lines to tell a linear story that was very full of emotion despite its lack of detail.

 

 

Evolution

 

Spivey has an immense discography, she managed to continue to record well after many classic Blues artists had stopped. Spivey recorded her first song in 1926 and recorded through the 20's and 30's with many artists, writing songs and singing with labels like the Victor, Vocalion, Decca, and OKeh labels, and moved to New York City, working as a featured performer in a number of African-American musical revues. In the 30's she traveled with Louis Armstrong on tour, but by the 50's she sang only in church. However, as the folk revival and sexual revolution took off in the 60's she once again found herself in high demand for shows. She recorded her album Woman Blues in 1961. She formed Spivey records in 1962 and as well as promoting new Blues talent, she used the label as a showcase for her own work and several albums of hers were released, mixing her well known classics with new material. She played with many of her old friends, like Hannah Sylvester, Sippie Wallace and Lucille Hegaminnas along with more famous Blues players like Memphis Slim, Sunny;and Slim, and Johnny Shine, and recorded younger talents like John Hammond Jr. and Sugar Blue. Even a young Bob Dylan showed up playing his harmonica. She was fully embraced in the 1970's after touring Europe and the States, as a sexually liberated feminist. 

Organ Grinder Blues showcases her suggestive lyrics that kept her interesting and relevant through the decades. This was influenced by many women such as Ida Cox and continued to influence many young Blues women passing through her label. Its a prime example of her concise, hard hitting lyrics that played around with the Blues Form.

Dope Head blues established her  reputation for social commentary, remarking on the use of drugs in the industry. 

 

 

Legacy

 

She influenced many artists simply because she was around for so long. She died in 1976 of an internal hemorrhage at age 67 and in her life touched every one from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Louis Armstrong to Bob Dylan. She was awarded a BMI Commendation of Excellence from the music publishing organization for her long and outstanding contributions to many worlds of music. Her later albums include Songs We taught Your Mother, The Queen and Her Knights, and The Victoria Spivey Recorded Legacy of the Blues. 

 

Comments (2)

Lucia Voges said

at 10:49 am on Mar 7, 2016

I think you did a great job with the mention of who Spivey was influenced by and who she influenced. I also appreciate the praise of her risky lyrics.

John DiTomaso said

at 2:37 pm on Mar 15, 2016

Link for Black snake blues is the wrong song. There are other Youtube uploads that have the correct song.

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