“Ma" Rainey Home

Gertrude Pridgett “Ma” Rainey, 1886-1939, the famed “Mother of the Blues,” lived in this house after 1935 during retirement in her native city. In 1904 she introduced “blues” as part of her traveling act. For 30 years her performances contributed to the growing popularity of this truly American music form. A pioneer female recording artist, she made 94 blues records for Paramount before 1928, and at least 47 were her compositions. Managing her own band, she encouraged younger musicians including Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, and Bessie Smith. Her grave is in nearby Porterdale Cemetery.

Columbus, Georgia · United States