Edna Hicks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edna Hicks
Background information
Birth name	Edna Landreaux or Lucille Landry
Also known as	Edna Landry
Born	(1891-10-14)October 14, 1891 or 1895 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	(1925-08-16)August 16, 1925 (aged 29-33) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Blues
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	c.1910–1925
Associated acts	Will Benbow Fletcher Henderson

Edna Hicks was an American blues singer and musician. She was born on October 14, 1891 (or 1895) and passed away on August 16, 1925. Edna was known for her powerful blues songs like "Hard Luck Blues" and "Poor Me Blues." She also recorded popular tunes such as "Down Hearted Blues" and "Gulf Coast Blues."

About Edna Hicks

Edna Hicks was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. Most people believe her birth name was Edna Landreaux. Her parents were Victor Landreaux and Rena Moore. However, some researchers think her birth name might have been Lucille Landry. They suggest her parents were Victor Landry and Rosa Moore. Edna was also the half-sister of another famous singer, Lizzie Miles.

Early Life and Career

Edna Hicks likely moved north from New Orleans when she was in her mid-teens. In 1910, she was working as a nurse and living at home. On June 10, 1912, she married Will Benbow. He was a performer and manager for touring shows called vaudeville. Edna, using the name Edna Landry, performed in his shows. However, they separated after a few years.

Edna became very popular in the black vaudeville scene. This was in the American Midwest during the late 1910s and 1920s. She often performed in cities like Chicago and Cincinnati.

Recording and Performances

Edna Hicks recorded many songs between 1923 and 1924. She worked with seven different record companies. These included famous labels like Victor, Vocalion, Columbia, and Brunswick.

Her most frequent musical partner was Fletcher Henderson. He often played the piano for her recordings. Other musicians like Porter Grainger and Lemuel Fowler also played with her.

Edna also appeared in many musical shows. In 1916, she was in a show called Follow Me in New York City. She also performed in Over the Top and other musical comedies. These shows were often at The Lafayette Theatre in New York City.

Later Life and Passing

In August 1925, Edna Hicks was helping her husband with their car. There was an accident involving gasoline. She was taken to a hospital in Chicago. Sadly, she passed away two days later, on August 16. She is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.

Songs by Edna Hicks

Edna Hicks recorded many songs during her career. Here are some of the songs she recorded:

See also

In Spanish: Edna Hicks para niños