Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was a well-known blues singer and early blues recording artist in the United States. She was known as the “Mother of the Blues” because she bridged the gap between earlier vaudeville and authentic southern blues, inspiring a generation of blues singers. Gertrude Pridgett started performing as a teenager, and after marrying Will “Pa” Rainey in 1904, she became known as “Ma” Rainey. What is Ma Rainey net worth before death? To know the exact net worth comes down.
What is Blue singer Ma Rainey net worth before death?
Ma Rainey was a blues singer from the United States of America. The “Mother of the Blues” is her moniker. Her colorful costumes and charismatic stage presence have made her popular. Ma Rainey’s net worth was estimated to be about $3 million at the time of her death. While some websites claim that her net worth ranges from $5 million to $13 million, it’s difficult to believe that it was that high at the time.
On April 26, 1886, in Columbus, Georgia, Gertrude Pridgett, later known as “Ma” Rainey, was born. She was the second of Thomas and Ella Pridgett’s five children. Her family had at least two brothers and a niece. When it came to her life, she married William “Pa” Rainey at the age of eighteen.
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How she started her career?
Rainey began her career as a performer at a talent show in Georgia when she was 12 years old. In 1902, she was first introduced to blues music. She and her husband founded the Alabama Fun Makers Company, but in 1906, they merged with the larger Rabbit’s Food Company. Rainey claims she discovered “Blues Music” while performing in Missouri one night and was introduced to a sad song about a man leaving a woman by a child.
Rainey made her debut in the music industry in 1923, after being discovered by J. Mayo Williams of Paramount Records. She signed a deal with Paramount, and her first eight recordings were made in Chicago. She released over 100 more songs over the next five years, extending her success even further south. Joe “King” Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Becher, and Pops Foster were among her collaborators.
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In 1928, her contract was terminated by Paramount after her style of blues went out of fashion
Owing to the rise of radio and recordings in the late 1920s, live vaudeville began to fade. Her career was not severely harmed, but it was the beginning of Ma’s demise. She continued to record for Paramount and used the money she received from touring to purchase a bus with her name on it. After her blues style went out of style, her contract with Paramount was terminated in 1928.
She then returned to her hometown of Georgia, where she ran three theaters, the Lyric, the Airdome, and the Liberty Theatre, until her death. She died of a heart attack at the age of 53 in 1939.
Ma Rainey made a significant contribution to blues music. The Blues Foundation inducted her into the Hall of Fame in 1983. She was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
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Quick Facts about Ma Rainey
Full Real Name | Ma Rainey, née Gertrude Pridgett |
Birthday | April 26, 1886 |
Age (as of 2021) | 53 years |
Place of Birth | Columbus, Georgia, U.S |
Profession | Singer songwriter |
Net worth | $2 million |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | N/A |
Spouse | William Rainey |
Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Parents | Thomas Pridgett, Ella Pridgett |
School/College | Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts |
Height | 1.6 meter |
Weight | 149.9 lbs. |