Fannie May Goosby facts for kids

Fannie May Goosby (born in 1902, and last known to be alive after 1934) was an American blues singer, piano player, and songwriter. She was also known as Fannie Mae Goosby. She made ten recordings between 1923 and 1928. One of her songs, "Grievous Blues," was recorded twice.

Fannie May Goosby was special because she was one of the first female blues musicians to record her own songs. She was also one of the first two blues singers ever recorded in the Deep South of the United States. The other singer was Lucille Bogan. We do not know much about her life outside of her music career.

About Fannie May Goosby

Blues researchers Bob Eagle and Eric S. LeBlanc believe that Goosby was born in Pinehurst, Georgia.

Early Recordings

In June 1923, a man named Polk C. Brockman, who owned a furniture store in Atlanta, helped Okeh Records sell their music. He went to New York to make a new business deal. Okeh Records asked him if he knew any artists in Atlanta worth recording. Brockman promised to find someone.

At his next meeting, he convinced Ralph Peer to record Fiddlin' John Carson. Around June 14, 1923, during the same recording sessions, Peer also recorded "The Pawn Shop Blues" sung by Lucille Bogan. At this time, Goosby sang her own song, "Grievous Blues." She played the piano herself, and Henry Mason played the trumpet.

This recording was important because it was one of the first "rural blues" songs ever recorded. Fannie May Goosby wrote most of her own songs. This was quite rare for female blues singers back then.

More Recordings in New York

After their first recordings, Carson, Bogan, and Goosby were invited to New York to record more songs. Goosby recorded another version of "Grievous Blues." She also recorded five more songs in September and October of 1923. All of these songs were released by Okeh Records.

In March 1924, Goosby also played piano for Viola Baker's song, "Sweet Man Blues."

Later Recordings

Fannie May Goosby recorded four more songs in March 1928. These songs were released on the Brunswick label. One of these was "Fortune Teller Blues," which was written by Levi B. Byron. Other singers like Martha Copeland, Viola McCoy, and Rosa Henderson later recorded a different song with the same title.

Researchers Eagle and LeBlanc reported that Goosby was last known to be alive in New York around 1934. We do not have any more information about what happened to her after that time.

Fannie May Goosby's Songs

Here is a list of songs Fannie May Goosby recorded. Most of them were written by her.

Compilation Albums

Fannie May Goosby's songs have been included on these special music collections:

• Piano Singer's Blues: Women Accompany Themselves (Rosetta Records, 1982) includes Goosby's "Fortune Teller Blues"
• Female Blues Singers Vol. 7 (Document Records, 2005) includes Goosby's "Grievous Blues" and "Goosby Blues"

See also

• List of classic female blues singers