Bertha Idaho facts for kids

Bertha Idaho (born around 1895; date of death unknown) was an American singer. She was known for her style of music called classic female blues. She recorded four songs in 1928 and 1929. We don't know much about her life outside of her music.

Bertha Idaho's music might have been forgotten. However, two things helped keep her memory alive. First, musician John Fahey mentioned her in the notes for his first album, Blind Joe Death. Second, a music historian named Rosetta Reitz re-released her recordings.

Bertha Idaho's Music Career

Bertha Idaho was likely born in Georgia around 1895. Her singing career started in the 1910s. She performed in a traveling song and dance act with her husband, John.

In 1915, they performed with the Florida Blossom Minstrels. They sang songs like "Jelly Roll" and "Brother Low Down" in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Her Recorded Songs

Bertha Idaho recorded four songs in New York City.

• "Graveyard Love" (recorded May 2, 1928)
• "You've Got the Right Eye, but You're Peeping at the Wrong Keyhole" (recorded May 2, 1928)
• "Down on Pennsylvania Avenue" (recorded May 25, 1929)
• "Move It On Out of Here" (recorded May 25, 1929)

Tom Delaney wrote "Down on Pennsylvania Avenue." The song's words talked about his own bad luck. It's not clear if Delaney or Clarence Williams played the piano on Idaho's recordings. The record labels say Delaney wrote three of the songs. Bertha Idaho is listed as the writer for "You've Got the Right Eye, but You're Peeping at the Wrong Keyhole."

Stage Performances

Bertha Idaho also had a stage career at the same time she was recording. In 1928, she was the star of Mississippi Steppers. This was a touring show in the vaudeville style. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy.

The next year, she was in a show called Georgia Peaches. She also helped produce this show. By 1930, she was known as Bertha Jordan. She was living in Baltimore, Maryland. We don't have any information about when or how she passed away.

Her Lasting Legacy

John Fahey's album Blind Joe Death was first released in 1959. Only a small number of copies were made. Fahey mentioned Bertha Idaho in the notes for this album. The album became more famous later on, which also helped keep Bertha Idaho's name known.

Rosetta Reitz collected music from old 78-rpm records. She focused on lesser-known performers like Bertha Idaho. Her collections also included songs from other singers like Valaida Snow, Georgia White, Bessie Brown, and Maggie Jones. She also found forgotten songs from more famous artists like Ida Cox, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Mae West. Reitz especially liked classic female blues singers from the 1920s. She re-released these early recordings on her own record label, Rosetta Records.

Compilation Discography

• Mean Mothers/Independent Women's Blues, Vol. 1 (1981), Rosetta Records ("Move It On Out of Here")
• Independent Women's Blues, Vol. 3: Super Sisters: 1927–1955 (1995), Rosetta ("You've Got the Right Eye, But You're Peeping at the Wrong Keyhole")
• Female Blues Singers, Vol. 10: H/I/J (1923–1929) (1997), Document Records (all four of her recorded songs)
• ...I Listen to the Wind That Obliterates My Traces (2011), Dust-to-Digital ("Graveyard Love")

See also

• List of classic female blues singers