Miss Frankie facts for kids

Miss Frankie was an American classic female blues singer. She made eight recordings in 1926 and 1927. We don't know much about her life outside of the recording studio. People still wonder who she really was.

Who Was Miss Frankie?

Miss Frankie was a singer from the 1920s. She recorded several songs, but her true identity is a bit of a mystery. No one knows much about her life. This makes her story quite interesting!

Miss Frankie's Music Career

Miss Frankie recorded her first known songs in 1926. These included "I Need a Good Man Bad" and "I Can't Be Worried Long." She also recorded "You Can't Guess How Good It Is" and "Those Creeping Sneaking Blues."

Some people think the famous pianist Eubie Blake might have played on two of her songs. Her music was released on record labels like Grey Gull Records in Boston. Her recordings are even mentioned in a book called All Music Guide to the Blues.

Where Can You Hear Her Songs?

Many of Miss Frankie's songs have been put on special music collections. For example, they were part of the album Female Blues Singers Vol 6 E/F/G 1922 - 1928. This album was released by Document Records. Some of her songs also appeared on The Roots of Billie Holiday - Ladies Sing the Blues of The 1920s.

Was Miss Frankie Also Jane Howard?

Many experts believe that Miss Frankie was actually another singer named Jane Howard. It was common for singers back then to use different names. This was especially true when they recorded for different record companies.

One book suggests that 'Miss Frankie' was a fake name for Jane Howard. She might have used it for songs on Banner, Domino, and Regal. Another source says that Jane Howard worked with a musician named Happy Holmes.

Jane Howard recorded songs for Banner and Victor Records. It was normal for the same song to appear on different record labels.

More Recordings in 1927

Miss Frankie recorded more songs in September 1927. These included "Kissin' Mule Blues," "Peepin' Jim Blues," and "Hard Hearted Papa." She also recorded "Mean Old Bedbug Blues" in October that year.

One of her singles, "Peepin' Jim Blues" with "When You Get Tired of Your New Sweetie," was released by Banner Records. Both songs were credited to 'Miss Frankie'. "Peepin' Jim Blues" and "Hard Hearted Papa" also appeared on another collection. It was called Female Blues Singers, Vol. 10, H/I/J (1923-1929).

Who Else Might Miss Frankie Be?

There's even more mystery about Miss Frankie's identity. Some people think that another singer, Lizzie Miles, might have recorded some of the songs. This idea mainly applies to "When You Get Tired of Your New Sweetie" and "Shooting Star Blues." These songs came out on Conqueror Records in January 1928.

Miss Frankie's Recorded Songs

Here are the songs Miss Frankie is known to have recorded:

• "You Can't Guess How Good It Is ('Till You Try It for Yourself)" (May 1926)
• "Those Creeping Sneaking Blues" (May 1926)
• "I Need a Good Man Bad" (December 1926)
• "I Can't Be Worried Long" (December 1926)
• "Peepin' Jim Blues" (September 1927)
• "Kissin' Mule Blues" (September 1927)
• "Hard Hearted Papa" (September 1927)
• "Mean Old Bedbug Blues" (October 1927)

See also

• List of classic female blues singers