Memphis Minnie American blues singer Date of Birth: 03.06.1897 Country: USA

Memphis Minnie: Biography of a Blues Icon

Memphis Minnie, born Lizzie Douglas in Algiers, Louisiana, in 1897, was an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. As one of the few women in the blues genre, Memphis Minnie successfully competed with male performers. She holds the record for the longest career in the recording industry at the time, spanning 40 years. She was the eldest of 12 siblings and grew up as a determined and independent girl. At the age of 7, she received her first guitar as a gift and quickly mastered playing it. She started performing at local parties and later worked in nightclubs in Memphis during her teenage years.

In 1917, she joined the "Ringling Brothers Circus," touring extensively in the South, where she gained experience and exposure. By the mid-1920s, the blues scene in Memphis was thriving, and Memphis Minnie found her niche in this musical culture. She joined several bands and gained recognition. Eventually, she caught the attention of scouts from Columbia Records, marking the beginning of her career in the recording industry. Her first recorded song, "Bumble Bee," became a hit, leading Memphis Minnie and her husband, guitarist Joe McCoy, known as Kansas Joe, to relocate to Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout the 1940s, Memphis Minnie gained fame with songs like "Nothing in Rambling," "In My Girlish Days," "Looking The World Over," and "Me and My Chauffeur Blues." This period marked the peak of her musical career. Despite facing challenges, she remained active in the industry for 40 years, becoming a record-breaking figure. She developed her unique style by blending blues from the Southern states with country music in the early 1940s. Memphis Minnie also frequently participated in various competitions, often competing against male blues musicians, delighting in outperforming them on stage.

Memphis Minnie was recognized as one of the best female guitarists by her peers, with Big Bill Broonzy remarking that she was the finest he had encountered. She wrote all of her own songs, showcasing her songwriting skills alongside her musical talent. However, in the mid-1950s, her health began to decline, and she retired from active performance. In 1957, she suffered a heart attack and returned to Memphis. The following 20 years were challenging, as she resided in a nursing home in Memphis, visited only by her sister. She spent her remaining days in a wheelchair until she passed away on August 6, 1973, due to a stroke. She was laid to rest at the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Walls, DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Memphis Minnie released over a hundred records on the labels Bluebird, Decca, and Vocalion. She was considered one of the most respected and prominent blues performers, not only in the Chicago blues scene but throughout America.