Etta Jones
An artist who emerged in the 1940s, Etta Jones was an African American jazz singer born in Aiken, South Carolina and raised in Harlem, New York. Racial segregation was part of the U.S. society then and thus at the time of her raising career, Etta Jones found herself at times performing for an audience divided “by a rope down the middle” white on one side and black on the other. She recalls then a similar experience in a liquor store, but then the money would go to the same cash register.
GENDER/ GENDER BIAS
As a professional singer and woman, Etta Jones remembers getting paid more than the musicians. While the musicians earned $35 a night, the talented jazz singer made for herself $50 a night.INFLUENCE
As a child—as early as the age of three—Jones was interested in music and as such, at this early age would sing jazz songs she heard on the radio. But it was the when she heard Billie Holiday that she knew she wanted to be a singer. In terms of personal influence, the artists received a lot of help from her pal musicians, especially those with whom she played with.INDEPENDENCE
Jones, still enjoyed popularity and fame in the later years of her career. In 1998, she expressed to still touring nationally and internationally and how she loved to travel. (Jones, Interview, 10/2/1988, Line 48).Sample performance:
For full interview transcript, read the following:
