Gertrude Pridgett was born of Ella and Thomas Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in Columbus, Georgia. Throughout her youth she performed and sang in various areas. It was said that her first actual performance was at a talent show named a Bunch of Blackberries when she was 14. She was well known for her deep contralto voice, she could only sing a few octaves but the way she sang and moved her audience which made her grow very popular. At the age of eighteen she married William “Pa” Rainey who was a vaudeville performer, and a comedian; this holy matrimony earned her the well known name, “Ma” Rainey. Rainey first heard the genre of blues when a woman started singing a song about a man who cheated on her and her anymore. When Rainey heard this music she described it as “strange and poignant.” Rainey seemed to fall in love with this type of melody, so much so that she decided to incorporate this new type of music in her shows. …show more content…
These shows contained various concerts, dramas, and comedy routines. She was known for extravagant dresses, wearing diamonds, tiaras, gold teeth and and a full necklace of gold coins. It was said that she was the ugliest women in show business, but all that gossip was set aside as soon as she started singing. During this time Ma Rainey met Bessie Smith. Bessie was first a dancer for the Rabbit Foot minstrel shows, then Rainey became a mentor to Bessie Smith and led her to stardom. They became really close friends as the years went on. Even though Ma Rainey