Lucille Hegamin facts for kids

Lucille Nelson Hegamin (born November 29, 1894 – died March 1, 1970) was an American singer and entertainer. She was one of the first African-American blues artists to record music. Her unique style helped shape the sound of early blues.

Lucille Hegamin's Musical Journey

Early Life and First Performances

Lucille Nelson was born in Macon, Georgia. Her parents were John and Minnie Nelson. From a young age, she loved to sing. She performed in church choirs and local theater shows.

By age 15, Lucille was touring the southern United States. She traveled with a group called the Leonard Harper Minstrel Stock Company. In 1914, she moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, she was often called "The Georgia Peach."

Chicago and Early Success

In Chicago, Lucille worked with famous musicians like Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton. She later married a pianist and composer named Bill Hegamin. She once said that she sang all kinds of songs, from blues to popular tunes. She performed them in a jazz style.

Lucille felt she helped make the song "St. Louis Blues" very popular in Chicago. This song was one of her special performances.

Moving to New York and Recording

The Hegamins moved to Los Angeles in 1918. The next year, they moved to New York City. Bill Hegamin led a band called the Blue Flame Syncopators. This band played music for Lucille when she sang.

In November 1920, Lucille Hegamin made history. She became the second African-American blues singer to record music. The first was Mamie Smith. Lucille recorded songs for Arto Records and later for Paramount in 1922.

Big Hits and Famous Songs

One of her biggest hits was "Arkansas Blues." She recorded it for Arto, and it was released on many other record labels. She also recorded "Jazz Me Blues" in 1921. This song became a very popular jazz tune.

Lucille performed in theaters but did not travel a lot for tours. From November 1921 to January 1922, she lived at the Shuffle Inn in Harlem.

Singing Contests and Tours

On January 20, 1922, Lucille took part in a blues singing contest. It was held in New York City. Other singers like Daisy Martin and Trixie Smith also competed. Lucille came in second place to Trixie Smith.

From February to May of that year, she toured with a musical show called Shuffle Along. She had the same role in this show that Florence Mills had in an earlier version.

Later Recordings and Retirement

From 1922 to late 1926, Lucille recorded over forty songs for Cameo Records. She was known as "The Cameo Girl" during this time. After her marriage to Bill Hegamin ended in 1923, she often performed with pianist J. Cyrill Fullerton.

In 1926, she recorded with Clarence Williams's band for Columbia Records. She also sang with George "Doc" Hyder's band in 1927. She performed in shows with Hyder in Harlem theaters. In 1929, she sang on a radio show called Negro Achievement Hour.

Around 1934, Lucille Hegamin stopped singing professionally. She began working as a nurse. However, she returned to music in 1961. She recorded four songs for an album called Songs We Taught Your Mother. In 1962, she recorded another album called Basket of Blues.

Lucille Hegamin passed away in Harlem Hospital in New York City on March 1, 1970. She was buried in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn.

Lucille Hegamin's Singing Style

Lucille Hegamin's singing style was influenced by artists like Annette Hanshaw and Ruth Etting. She had a clear, rich voice and sang with perfect pronunciation. Her style had a strong jazz feeling.

She was known for her "vaudeville" style, which meant she could sing many different types of songs. Like Mamie Smith, Lucille Hegamin sang classic female blues. Her style was lighter and more like pop music. This was different from the rougher blues singers like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith.