Mozelle Alderson

Mozelle Alderson (November 20, 1904 – February 15, 1994)[1] was an American classic female blues singer. She recorded a small number of tracks for Black Patti Records in 1927 and for Brunswick Records In 1930. Her most regular pianist was Judson Brown. She was a one-time vocalist for the Famous Hokum Boys in 1930[2] and toured and recorded as a backing vocalist for other blues artists. Alderson used a number of aliases, possibly including Kansas City Kitty, Hannah May, Thelma Holmes, Mae Belle Lee, and Jane Lucas.[3][4][5]

Mozelle Alderson
Birth nameMozelle Fagans
Also known asPossibly Kansas City Kitty, Hannah May, Thelma Holmes, Mae Belle Lee, Jane Lucas
Born(1904-11-20)November 20, 1904
Bedford, Ohio, United States
DiedFebruary 15, 1994(1994-02-15) (aged 89)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresClassic female blues
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1920s–1930s
LabelsBlack Patti, Brunswick, ARC, Vocalion, Paramount

Little is known of her life outside of her recording career.

Career

She was born Mozelle Fagans in Bedford, Ohio, probably in 1904 but possibly as early as 1900. She married and moved to Chicago, Illinois.[1]

Alderson recorded three singles released by Black Patti Records in 1927, on which she was accompanied by the pianist Blind James Beck: "Mobile Central Blues", "Tall Man Blues", "Mozelle Blues", "State Street Special", "Sobbin' the Blues" and "Room Rent Blues".[6] She recorded "Tight Whoopee" backed with "Tight in Chicago", released by Brunswick Records in 1930.[7][8] The pianist Judson Brown accompanied her on the Brunswick recordings. She also recorded for the ARC and Vocalion labels.[1]

Harum Scarums, a trio comprising Big Bill Broonzy, Georgia Tom and Alderson, recorded the two-part "Alabama Scratch" in Grafton, Wisconsin, for Paramount Records (Paramount 13054) in January 1931, and it was reported that it sounded "as if it was a real party."[4]

The self-titled compilation album of the Famous Hokum Boys, issued in 2015 by JSP Records, includes the following in its credits: Mozelle Alderson, Scrapper Blackwell, Big Bill Broonzy, Georgia Tom, Frank Brasswell, Kansas City Kitty, Hannah May, and Arthur Petties.[9]

Alderson was widowed by 1941. She married John Slocum in Chicago in 1943.[1]

She died in Chicago in 1994, aged 89.[1]

Her recordings are available on several compilation albums.[10]

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See also

References
  1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 254. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. O'Neal, Jim; Amy van Singel, eds. (2002). The Voice of the Blues: Classic Interviews from Living Blues Magazine. Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 0-415-93654-3. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  3. Layne, Joslyn. "Mozelle Alderson: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  4. "Booze, Blues Go Hand in Hand for Broonzy, Dorsey and Alderson". Goldminemag.com. June 20, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  5. O'Neal; van Singel (eds.). The Voice of the Blues. p. 26. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  6. "Mozelle Alderson Discography of CDs". discogs. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  7. "Mozelle Alderson 78 RPM – Discography – USA – 78 RPM World". 45worlds.com. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  8. Laird, Ross (1996). Moanin' Low: A Discography of Female Popular Vocal Recordings, 1920–1933. Greenwood Press. p. 3. Retrieved November 16, 2016. mozelle alderson.
  9. "The Famous Hokum Boys: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. "Mozelle Alderson Discography of CDs". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
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