Lena Wilson facts for kids
Lena Wilson (born around 1898 – died around 1939) was an American blues singer. She was known for her "classic female blues" style. Lena was an African-American artist who performed in vaudeville shows. She often performed with her brother Danny and his wife, Edith Wilson, in the late 1910s and 1920s. Lena Wilson recorded many songs in the 1920s as a solo singer. She worked with famous record companies like Black Swan, Paramount, Pathé, Victor, and Vocalion.
About Lena Wilson
Lena Wilson was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was an adopted child. Around 1918 to 1920, she started singing in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It featured many different acts like singers, dancers, and comedians. Lena performed with her brother Danny Wilson. They traveled and performed on a special circuit in the Southern United States.
In 1921, they performed in Louisville, Kentucky. There, they met Edith Goodall. Edith soon married Danny and joined their act. Danny was a talented pianist. He had studied music at a special school in Charleston, South Carolina. He encouraged both Lena and Edith to sing not only blues but also other kinds of songs.
Recording Her Music
Lena Wilson made most of her important recordings between 1922 and 1924. She also recorded more songs in 1930. She worked with many different groups and musicians. Some of these included the Nubian Five and Perry Bradford's Jazz Phools. She also sang with Conaway's Rag Pickers and famous jazz musicians like Fletcher Henderson.
Lena also recorded with Johnny Dunn's Jazz Hounds. Her brother Danny Wilson and Edith Wilson sometimes joined her. Lena also recorded songs under her own name. For these recordings, she worked with the Jazz Hounds. This group included Gus Aiken on trumpet and Garvin Bushell on clarinet. Herb Fleming played trombone, and John Mitchell played banjo. Porter Grainger and Cliff Jackson played the piano. Some of her well-known songs are "Memphis, Tennessee" and "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do." Other popular songs were "Chiropractor Blues" and "Love Ain't Blind No More."
Later Years
Lena Wilson sang in many musical shows in Harlem during the 1920s. Harlem is a famous neighborhood in New York City. In the 1930s, she married a violinist named Shrimp Jones. She continued to perform regularly in New York City. She was a popular singer until the mid-1930s. Lena Wilson passed away around 1939 in New York. Reports say she died from pneumonia.
