Blues gay

To celebrate PrideBillboard. But there are also noteworthy exclusions no Boy Blues gay Indigo Girls? Still, the authors are to be praised for not naming it the Greatest gay moments. For me, it was liberating to hear someone who was blatantly, undeniably gay getting rotation on my radio, and years later, seeing a room full of people dancing with abandon to the music of that same gay man.

Although jazz music has long been associated with a certain macho bravado, homosexuality was not uncommon in the genre. Queer Cultural Center. Voice teacher Casca Bonds and black archivist Alexander Gumby are among the many who reportedly hosted gay house parties. While well-known clubs such as the Savoy Ballroom held drag balls, the hottest parties were at the Rockland Palace, which were so popular that there was special seating for straight people who came just to observe the fun.

Queer Blues by Darryl W. Bullock

Naturally, all this gay-romping worked its way into the music. Several songs mention gays or lesbians merely in passing. Still, it was not uncommon for songs to focus entirely on homosexual relationships, most often lesbian in nature. If there was a leader to this movement of inclusion, it had to be Gertrude Pridgett, better known as Ma Rainey.

Born in in Georgia, she began performing as a teen and married Will Rainey at the age of Despite her marriage to a man, Ma was well-known for her love of the ladies, one of whom was reportedly a young Bessie Smith. Some accounts claim that Rainey mentored Smith, while others argue the two women just became good friends while they were both touring with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels.

A lot. In fact, inshe was arrested for hosting a lesbian orgy. The Biography. As a young woman in her teens, she auditioned repeatedly for various bands and shows, playing both piano and saxophone, but found jobs hard to get. I could have accepted it.

He did a helluva good job with us. He was my dad. Paula Chin and Nick Gallo. Several books, plays, songs and revues have been based on her life, and she was the inspiration for The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet. Nevertheless, her piano playing is extraordinary.

With artists such as Billy Tipton and Ma Rainey, as well as the great composer Billy Strayhorn, vibraphonist Gary Burton, trumpeter Bunk Johnson, and singer Gladys Bentley, among others, in its history, one would assume that the genre blues gay jazz was more open and accepting of LGBT performers than other genres.

After all, can you name any country-western or hip-hop artists who were out before ? Probably not. However, jazz is still a largely homophobic field. Jazz pianist Jason C. Weinreb noted in Openly gay pianist Fred Hersch relates that some listeners take the beauty and lyricism of his playing for granted.

Blues gay all, what straight man could play with such emotion and sensitivity?