my daughter's doing her homework. she has:
- josephine baker
- bessie smith
- billie holiday

but needs one more. i couldn't think of another woman off the top of my head and my music encyclopedias are packed away. any suggestions?

oh wait, does ella fitzgerald apply here?

You named my suggestions already.

Those are the only three I own music of.

'Ma' Rainey.

Big time.

I don't know if Ella technically applies, although Louis and Duke do and that's how Ella got her start so to speak.

O.k., I double checked it against my NAWM, and Ella is part of the Harlem Renaissance.

Lil Hardin, Louis Armstrong's second wife also geographically and chronologically fits into the Harlem Renaissance, although overshadowed by her famous relationship. They were divorced for the better part of a decade by the time she did her set of singles as a swing vocalist for Decca.

I wish I could have had homework like that.

Steve

no joke.

we came up with a few names and found a good website.
ella, ethel waters and ma rainey.

thanks for all your help...again.
my children's education is definitely becoming a communal effort here.

honors english.

You should also check out the Norton Anthology of Western Music from your local library. It's the bomb for stuff like that.

-Phil