Bertha Lee Pate | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 17, 1902 Lula, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | May 10, 1975 (aged 72) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Bertha Lee Pate, known more commonly as Bertha Lee (June 17, 1902 – May 10, 1975)[1][better source needed] was an American classic female blues singer, active in the 1920s and 1930s. She recorded with, and was the common-law wife of Charley Patton.[2]
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Yellow Bee CHARLEY PATTON & BERTHA LEE (1934) Delta Blues
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Terry Robb live at the Satyricon circa 1984 "Bertha Lee"
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Robert Petway - Bertha Lee Blues - rare 78rpm blues record
Transcription
Biography
When she was young, Lee's family moved to Lula, Mississippi. Lee met Patton in 1930 and remained his partner until his death in 1934.[3] During this time, she sang on twelve of Patton's recordings, which resulted in the recording of three of her own songs, "Yellow Bee", "Dog Train Blues", and "Mind Reader Blues".[4] Patton accompanied her on guitar on these records.[2]
In 1933, the couple settled in Holly Ridge, Mississippi. Her relationship with Patton was a turbulent one. In early 1934, both of them were incarcerated in a Belzoni, Mississippi jailhouse after a particularly harsh fight.[5] W. R. Calaway from Vocalion Records bailed the pair out of jail, and escorted them to New York City, for what would be Patton's final sessions (on January 30 and February 1).[6] They later returned to Holly Ridge and Lee saw Patton out in his final days, as he died, according to his death certificate, of a mitral valve disorder on April 28, 1934.[6][5]
Little else is known of Lee, and her recordings with Patton are the only documents of her voice. The album, Masters of the Delta Blues : The Friends of Charlie Patton contains some of her work.[7]
She died in 1975 in Chicago, Illinois.
References
- ^ "Livin' at Lula". Msbluestrail.org. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "Biography by Joslyn Layne". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Robert Palmer (1981). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
- ^ "Charley Patton's Yellow Bee/Bertha Lee". 2006.
- ^ a b Robert Palmer (1981). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. pp. 86–7. ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
- ^ a b Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 43. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 211. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
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This page was last edited on 19 June 2024, at 05:10