Viola McCoy facts for kids

Viola McCoy (born around 1900 – died around 1956) was an American blues singer. She was known for her "classic female blues" style. She sang and performed for many years, from the early 1920s to the late 1930s.

Her Early Life and Career

Viola McCoy might have been born with the name Amanda Brown. She sometimes used this name when she recorded songs. People think she was born in Mississippi. However, a newspaper article from 1924 said she was from Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1916, she performed with a band that was part of the Sparks Circus. This was a traveling show with different acts. She sang a funny song called "Scaddle-de-Mooch." She also sang a blues song called "Daddy." This song might have been an early version of "Oh, Daddy." Famous singers like Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith later recorded "Oh, Daddy."

In 1917, McCoy toured with a group called the Georgia Smart Set. In the early 1920s, she moved to New York City. There, she performed in clubs called cabarets. She also appeared in big shows at the Lincoln and Lafayette Theaters.

Making Music and Touring

Viola McCoy traveled and performed on the Theater Owners Bookers Association vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts, like singing, dancing, and comedy.

She made many recordings between 1923 and 1929. She recorded for different music companies. Some of these companies included Gennett, Vocalion, and Columbia Records.

On her recordings from 1923, a pianist named Porter Grainger often played with her. Later, other musicians joined her. These included Fletcher Henderson, Louis Hooper, and Bob Fuller. On some of her songs, Viola McCoy even played the kazoo herself!

Later Years and Legacy

In 1927, she briefly owned a club in New York City called Jack's Cabaret. She also performed there. By 1930, she owned and ran a nightclub in Saratoga Springs, New York.

In 1938, she moved to Albany, New York. After that, she mostly stopped performing music. Viola McCoy is believed to have passed away in Albany, New York, around 1956.

A writer named Derrick Stewart-Baxter wrote about Viola McCoy. He said she was a great vaudeville performer. He also said her music had a strong jazz sound. He mentioned she had a beautiful deep voice (a contralto voice). She also sang very clearly (fine diction). He said she could sing well even on recordings that weren't the best quality. He thought she hardly ever made a bad record during her most active years.

Her Many Names

Viola McCoy recorded songs using several different names. These are called pseudonyms or stage names. She used these names for different record labels.

Here are some of the names she used:

• Amanda Brown (for Columbia, Perfect, and Pathe records)
• Daisy Cliff (for Guardsman records)
• Clara White or Bessie Williams (for Oriole and Domino records)
• Gladys White (for Variety records)
• Fannie Johnson (for Cameo records)
• Susan Williams (for Lincoln records)