Billie Pierce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billie Goodson Pierce
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Pierce playing the piano with husband De De Pierce on trumpet in the background, 1949
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 8, 1907 Marianna, Florida |
| Died | September 29, 1974 (aged 67) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Jazz and blues pianist, singer, dancer |
| Instruments | Piano |
Wilhelmina Madison Goodson, known as Billie Pierce (born June 8, 1907 – died September 29, 1974), was an American jazz pianist and singer. She performed and recorded music with her husband, De De Pierce. Her piano style was a lively mix of "barrelhouse," "boogie-woogie," and "ragtime." After moving to New Orleans in 1930, she played with bands led by A.J. Piron, Alphonse Picou, Emile Barnes, and George Lewis.
Discovering Billie Pierce: Her Early Life
Wilhelmina Goodson, or Billie, was born on June 8, 1907. She was born in Marianna, Florida, where her mother was from. Billie grew up in Pensacola, Florida.
Billie was one of six sisters who all played the piano. Her parents, Madison and Sarah Goodson, also played piano. They played hymns and sang in their Baptist church choir. Billie started playing the piano when she was only about two years old!
Billie never had formal music lessons. Her parents only played religious music and did not like ragtime, blues, or jazz. But Billie and her sisters loved these new styles.
When Billie was about ten, she and her sisters would visit the Belmont Theatre. They loved listening to famous singers like Ma Rainey, Ida Cox, and Bessie Smith. These stars often performed in Pensacola, Florida.
In 1922, when Billie was almost thirteen, Bessie Smith came to town again. Bessie's pianist, Clarence Williams, became ill. Young Billie stepped in and played piano with Bessie Smith for two weeks! This happened at the Belmont Theatre.
Billie Pierce's Musical Journey
Billie Pierce started playing piano professionally at age 15 in 1922. Some stories say she toured with Ma Rainey. However, she was actually playing with Ida Cox at the Belmont Theatre at that time.
After playing with Ms. Cox, Billie toured as a singer, dancer, and pianist. In the early 1920s, she only joined bands for the Florida part of their tours. In 1929, she was playing in a band called the Nighthawks Orchestra in Birmingham, Alabama. She heard her sister, Sadie, was sick and needed a temporary replacement. Sadie was playing with Buddy Petit's band in New Orleans.
Billie settled in New Orleans in 1930. By the 1930s, she was leading her own four-piece group. They played at a club called the Kingfish. Billie also toured more widely with traveling shows and her own music review.
In 1932, she played piano with Alphonse Picou's five-piece band. They performed at the Rialto Nightclub for a few years. She also played at the Blue Jay Club. There, she met trumpeter De De Pierce. He was playing with Billie's sister's band at a nearby club.
From 1933 to 1934, Billie and De De played in a band with clarinetist George Lewis. They performed at the Kingfish, a dance hall. Billie and De De got married on March 28, 1935.
Billie Pierce first recorded music with Emile Barnes in 1946. Her first recordings under her own name came out in 1953.
Billie and De De Pierce had their own band. This band was the main band at Luthjen's Dance Hall for 24 years. Billie led the band, playing piano and singing. De De lost his eyesight in the 1950s. Around the same time, Billie had a stroke. This made her unable to move for several months. Their careers paused for a while.
Their music careers started up again in the 1960s. This was when Dixieland jazz became popular again. Billie was a regular performer in the New Orleans jazz scene. She played from the 1950s through the early 1970s. She was also a member of the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Billie Pierce passed away on September 29, 1974, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was 67 years old. Her husband, De De, had died the year before.
Discography
With De De Pierce
- Blues and Tonks from the Delta (Riverside, 1961)
- Vocal Blues and Cornet in the Classic Tradition (Riverside, 1961)
- Jazz at Preservation Hall 2 (Atlantic, 1963)
- New Orleans' Billie & De De and Their Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Preservation Hall 1966)
- New Orleans Jazz (Arhoolie, 1971)
- Billie and De De Pierce at Luthjen's (Center, 1976)
- 1960 (G.H.B., 1994)
