Lucille bogan grandchildren

Lucille Bogan

Major Works

  • Shave ‘Em Dry
  • Tricks Ain’t Walkin’ No More
  • Bo-Easy Blues
  • Sloppy Drunk
  • Black Angel
  • Women Don’t Need Men
  • Sweet Patunia
  • Red Cross Store
  • Troubled Mind
  • Baking Powder Blues

Lucille Bogan (Bessie Jackson): A Biography

by Jamie Buehler (SHS)

Jamie Buehler (SHS Researcher)

“Born Lucille Armstrong in Amory, Mississippi, on April 1, 1897, she remained true to her roots as a blues stylist” (MSAlmanac). Lucille Bogan was raised in Birmingham, Alabama (BFC).  According to the Blue Flame Cafe web site,  “Little is known of her early life until 1923, when she made her first recordings for the Okeh Label in New York” (BFC).   Bogan also recorded for the Paramount and Brunswick labels in the 1920’s after she moved to Chicago (BFC).  “Lucille Bogan may be best known for writing and singing Shave ‘Em Dry (BFC). Bogan was considered by many to be the toughest female blues singer of the pre-war era (GEPM).

As early as 1923, Bogan started recording but never worked

Bogan, Lucille (1897–1948)

African-American blues singer.Name variations: recorded under the name Bessie Jackson. Born Lucille Anderson in Amory, Mississippi, on April 1, 1897; died in Los Angeles, California, on August 10, 1948; married Nazareth Bogan; reportedly married James Spencer; children: (first marriage) two.

Although there are inconsistencies regarding the life of Lucille Bogan, one constant remains: she was one of the greatest blueswomen of all time. Big-voiced and provocative, Bogan, who often recorded under the name Bessie Jackson, sang down-and-gritty blues songs dealing with sex, violence, dope, and life in the underworld.

Born in Mississippi on April 1, 1897, Bogan moved to Birmingham, Alabama, at an early age, where she was raised and first started singing. Some reports link her with Birmingham's black underground, an industrial environment that lent itself to the blues. In 1927, she moved to Chicago, recording for Paramount and Brunswick between 1928 and 1930. Her "Alley Boogie" with pianist Charles Avery was noteworthy, as was "They Ain't Walking No Mo

Lucille Bogan

American blues singer (1897–1948)

Lucille Bogan

Birth nameLucile Anderson
Also known asBessie Jackson
Born(1897-04-01)April 1, 1897
Birmingham, Alabama or Amory, Mississippi, U.S. (disputed)
DiedAugust 10, 1948(1948-08-10) (aged 51)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresClassic female blues, dirty blues
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1923–1935

Musical artist

Lucille Bogan (née Anderson; April 1, 1897 – August 10, 1948)[1] was an American classic female blues singer and songwriter, among the first to be recorded. She also recorded under the pseudonym Bessie Jackson. Music critic Ernest Borneman noted that Bogan was one of "the big three of the blues", along with Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith.[2] Many of Bogan's songs have been recorded by later blues and jazz musicians.[3]

Many of her songs were sexually explicit, and she is generally considered to have been a "dirty blues" musician.[2]

In 2022, she was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

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