Lovie Austin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lovie Austin
Background information
Birth name	Cora Taylor
Also known as	Cora Calhoun Cora Austin
Born	(1887-09-19)September 19, 1887 Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Died	July 8, 1972(1972-07-08) (aged 84) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Jazz, Jazz blues
Occupation(s)	Musician Composer Bandleader
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1920s–1972
Labels	Paramount

Cora "Lovie" Austin (born September 19, 1887 – died July 8, 1972) was an amazing American musician. She was a bandleader, composer, and piano player in Chicago during the 1920s. This was a special time known as the classic blues era. Lovie Austin and Lil Hardin Armstrong are often seen as two of the best female jazz blues piano players from that time.

Discovering Lovie Austin's Life

Lovie Austin was born as Cora Taylor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She grew up with eight brothers and sisters. As a teenager, she took the name Cora Calhoun after an early marriage. Later, she married a performer named Phillip Austin.

Lovie studied music theory at Roger Williams University and Knoxville College. This was very unusual for African American women and jazz musicians back then. It showed how dedicated she was to her music.

Moving to Chicago

In 1923, Lovie Austin made Chicago her permanent home. She lived and worked there for the rest of her life. People often saw her driving her cool Stutz Bearcat car, which even had leopard skin seats!

Her early career was in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment show with different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy. Lovie played piano and performed in these shows.

Playing with Blues Singers

Lovie was especially good at playing piano for blues singers. You can hear her on recordings with famous artists like Ma Rainey ("Moonshine Blues") and Ida Cox ("Wild Women Don't Have the Blues"). She also played with Ethel Waters ("Craving Blues") and Alberta Hunter ("Sad 'n' Lonely Blues").

Leading Her Own Band

Lovie Austin led her own band called the Blues Serenaders. This band often included talented musicians like Tommy Ladnier on trumpet and Kid Ory on trombone. They also had Jimmy O'Bryant or Johnny Dodds on clarinet. The Blues Serenaders created their own special sound in jazz music. They were different from other jazz bands of the time.

Lovie worked with many other top jazz musicians in the 1920s. One of them was Louis Armstrong. They worked together on the song "Heebie Jeebies."

Becoming a Songwriter

Lovie Austin was also a skilled songwriter. She helped write the classic song "Down Hearted Blues" with Alberta Hunter. This song is about a woman with a broken heart. Singer Bessie Smith made the song a huge hit in 1923. Lovie also worked as a session musician for Paramount Records. This means she played on recordings for other artists.

Later Years and Influence

In the early 1930s, the classic blues style became less popular. Lovie Austin then became the musical director for the Monogram Theater in Chicago. This theater was a big place where many Black performers played. She worked there for 20 years.

During World War II, many jazz musicians had to find other jobs. Lovie Austin even worked as a security guard at a defense factory. After the war, she played piano at Jimmy Payne's Dancing School. She also performed and recorded music sometimes. In 1961, she made an important recording with Alberta Hunter. This happened as people became more interested in her early music.

Lovie Austin passed away on July 8, 1972, in Chicago.

Lovie Austin's Impact

Mary Lou Williams, another famous pianist, said that Lovie Austin was her biggest influence. Williams called Lovie "a fabulous woman and a fabulous musician too." She believed Lovie was more talented than many male musicians of her time.

Lovie Austin's performances and songs helped many Black female artists during the Harlem Renaissance. This was a special time when Black artists, writers, and musicians created amazing works.

Discography