Arizona Dranes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arizona Dranes
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| Birth name | Juanita Dranes |
| Born | May 4, 1889 or May 4, 1891 Sherman, Texas |
| Origin | Austin, Texas |
| Died | July 27, 1963 (aged 72 or 74) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Instruments | Voice and Piano |
| Years active | 1920s–1940s |
Juanita "Arizona" Dranes (born May 4, 1889 or 1891 – died July 27, 1963) was an amazing American gospel singer and piano player. She was blind. Dranes was one of the first gospel artists to share the special music from Holiness churches with everyone. She did this through her recordings and performances in the 1920s. She recorded for Okeh Records. Arizona Dranes was also one of the first professional women gospel singers. Her unique singing voice and piano playing influenced many gospel artists who came after her. Her piano style mixed sounds from boogie and ragtime music.
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About Arizona Dranes
Early Life and Education
Juanita Drane (sometimes spelled Drain) was born blind in 1889 or 1891. Her hometown was Sherman, Texas. From 1896 to 1910, she went to the Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School in Austin, Texas. This is where she learned to play the piano. She started playing when she was a young teenager.
For a while, people thought Dranes was from both African-American and Mexican families. But new research by Michael Corcoran showed that she did not have Mexican heritage.
Her Real Name
Her correct last name is "Drane." This is how it was written in her school records from 1896 to 1897. Even though her name was "Drane" at school, she was called "Dranes" later in her music career. Her parents could not read or write. So, her last name was written down the way it sounded. Researchers found a possible cousin named "Doran." This name would have sounded like "Drane" in the way people spoke in the Southern United States at that time.
Arizona Dranes' Music Career
Starting Her Music Journey
After finishing school, Arizona Dranes lived in Sherman for ten years. Around 1922, she joined the Church of God in Christ in Wichita Falls, Texas. She quickly became a favorite singer and piano player for the church's founder, Charles Harrison Mason. She was very popular in the Church of God in Christ.
Dranes added a special, lively piano style to her gospel music. This style was like ragtime music. She helped make songs like "I Shall Wear A Crown" and "My Soul's a Witness for the Lord" very popular in the church.
Recording and Touring
Before Dranes, Holiness music was mostly sung without instruments (called a cappella). Arizona Dranes was one of the first to add piano to this music. She played the piano in styles like barrelhouse and ragtime. These styles were popular at the time.
She started recording her music in 1926 with Okeh Records. First, she recorded by herself. Later, she recorded with choirs and other artists. She was one of the first professional women gospel singers. Dranes sang at Church of God in Christ meetings all over the "Bible Belt" region. She toured in Texas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Later Life and Influence
Arizona Dranes made her last recordings in 1928. But she kept touring and performing through the 1940s. In 1948, she moved to Los Angeles, California. She passed away there on July 27, 1963.
Many gospel artists who came after her were greatly influenced by her piano playing. These included Roberta Martin and Clara Ward. Dranes' unique singing voice also influenced singers like Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
