Lizzie Miles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles (1957) Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Background information
Also known as	Miss Frankie (possibly)
Born	(1895-03-31)March 31, 1895 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died	March 17, 1963(1963-03-17) (aged 67) New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres	Blues
Occupation(s)	Singer

Elizabeth Mary Landreaux (born March 31, 1895 – died March 17, 1963) was an American singer. She was known by her stage name, Lizzie Miles. She was an Afro-Creole blues singer.

About Lizzie Miles's Life

Miles was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her family spoke a language called Kouri-Vini, which is a type of Louisiana Creole. As a child, she sang in her Catholic church. She also performed at parties and dances.

Early Career and Tours

From 1909 to 1911, Lizzie worked with famous musicians. These included Joe Oliver and Kid Ory. After that, she toured the southern United States. She performed in theaters, circuses, and minstrel shows.

In 1917, she sang in Chicago. She later worked with Freddie Keppard and Charlie Elgar. In 1922, she moved to New York. There, she made her first phonograph recordings. These were blues songs. However, Lizzie sang many different types of music. She did not like to be called only a blues singer.

Touring Europe and Later Years

Lizzie Miles traveled to Europe in 1924 and 1925. She then came back to New York. From 1926 to 1931, she performed in clubs. During this time, she worked with her half-brother, Herb Morand. She also recorded songs with King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton. Some people think Lizzie Miles also recorded songs under the name "Miss Frankie."

Lizzie became very ill in the 1930s. She stopped working in music for a while. Even so, she appeared in two films during the early 1930s. She started singing regularly again in 1935. She performed with Paul Barbarin in New York. In 1938, she sang with Fats Waller. She then worked in Chicago until 1942.

Later Performances and Retirement

In 1950, Miles lived in California. She sang with George Lewis in 1953 and 1954. She also performed in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1955 to 1957. She sang with Joe Darensbourg in Chicago in 1958 and 1959.

Lizzie returned to New Orleans. She performed with Freddie Kohlman and Paul Barbarin. She recorded with Dixieland and traditional jazz bands. In 1958, she appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival. She also made regular radio broadcasts. She fully retired from singing in 1959.

Final Years

After 1959, Lizzie Miles stopped singing all music except for gospel music. She began working closely with the Sisters of the Holy Family. This is a group of Black religious women in New Orleans. Lizzie said she wanted "to live the life of a nun."

She died from a heart attack in March 1963. She passed away at the sisters' nursing home in New Orleans. She was buried in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 3 in the city.

Her song "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" was used in the 2013 film Blue Jasmine. This movie was directed by Woody Allen. Lizzie's half-sister, Edna Hicks, was also a blues singer.

Lizzie Miles's Family Life

Lizzie Miles married August Pajaud in New Orleans. This happened on May 9, 1912.

She later married John C. Miles in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1914. She took her stage name, Lizzie Miles, from him. John C. Miles was a bandleader. He died in 1918 from the Spanish flu. He was on tour in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the time.

Lizzie Miles's Music

Albums

Songs Released in 1922

The following songs were all released in 1922 by Okeh Records:

• "Wicked Blues"
• "Take It 'Cause It's All Yours"
• "Lonesome Monday Morning Blues"
• "Please Don't Tickle Me, Babe"
• "He May Be Your Man, but He Comes to See Me Sometimes"
• "Muscle Shoals Blues"
• "She Walked Right Up and Took My Man"

See also

In Spanish: Lizzie Miles para niños

• Classic female blues
• Emerson Records
• Southland Records
• Circle Records
• List of classic female blues singers
• List of people from New Orleans