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Primary Source Sets

Women and the Blues

Ukulele sheet music for “The Saint Louis Blues,” written by W.C. Handy, 1914.

Ukulele sheet music for “The Saint Louis Blues,” written by W.C. Handy, 1914.

“The Saint Louis Blues,” written by William Christopher (W. C.) Handy and performed by Marion Harris, was promoted as the “first successful blues published” and “the most widely known ragtime composition.” Blues singer Bessie Smith was one of its most famous performers.

Citation Information: Handy, W. C., “The Saint Louis blues,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/a1f753bf3251f5b658655a89dcaa513a.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Courtesy of The New York Public Library.

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the author's point of view
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Item 6 of 12 in the Primary Source Set Women and the Blues

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Ukulele sheet music for “The Saint Louis Blues,” written by W.C. Handy, 1914.

The sheet music for “The Crazy Blues,” performed by Mamie Smith, 1920.

A photograph of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, one of the most influential blues singers, who recorded over one hundred of her own compositions.

A 2010 interview with Guthrie Ramsey and Steve Almond in which they describe the history and demise of the blues.

The album cover of Blues for Rampart Street, recorded by Ida Cox and Coleman Hawkins at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 1961.

A photograph of the rhythm-and-blues group Gladys Knight and the Pips receiving a proclamation honoring the group in 1970.

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