Josie Miles facts for kids

Josie Miles (born around 1900 – died between 1953 and 1965) was an American singer. She was famous for her work in vaudeville and as a blues singer. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts like music, comedy, and dance. Josie Miles was one of the well-known "classic female blues" singers in the 1920s.

Early Life and Start in Music

Josie Miles was born in Summerville, South Carolina. In the early 1920s, she moved to New York City. There, she began her career in entertainment. She performed in a musical comedy called Shuffle Along. This show was created by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle.

Recordings and Performances

In 1922, Josie Miles started recording her music. Her first recordings were with the Black Swan Company. This was an important record label for African-American artists. Later, she recorded for other labels like Gennett, Ajax, Edison, and Banner Records.

In 1923, Josie Miles went on tour with the Black Swan Troubadours. They performed for African-American audiences across the country. She also performed in New York City in a show called Runnin' Wild. This show was created by James P. Johnson and played at the Colonial Theatre. In the same year, she even performed on WDT radio in New York City. This was a big deal for artists back then!

A blues writer named Steve Tracy said Josie Miles had a "light but forceful" singing style. Her last known recordings were made in 1925.

Later Years

After the early 1930s, Josie Miles settled in Kansas City, Missouri. She spent her later years focusing on church activities. Some stories say that Josie Miles passed away in a car accident sometime between the 1950s and 1960s.

There were some recordings made in 1928 by a preacher named Missionary Josephine Miles. However, it is not known if this was the same Josie Miles. Blues historians like Paul Oliver and Chris Smith believe it was probably not her.