Something New from Sue!!

I have a new engagement as a columnist for The San Diego Troubadour, San Diego's premier music publication, mostly featuring all styles of San Diego musicians, including many articles and a calendar of everyone's events. My column began February 1st and is entitled SUE'S SPOTLIGHT: Women in Blues and Jazz.

Women in Blues and Jazz: The Boswell Sisters • Katie Webster • Victoria Spivey

June 2025

The Boswell Sisters were born at the beginning of the 20th century and came of age just as jazz was developing. They were classically trained, originally playing piano (Martha), cello (Connie), and violin (Vet). Their older brother was a classical violinist who became interested in jazz and his little sisters quickly joined him. Eventually, Martha accompanied them on piano, and they became most famous for their singing. Having sung together since they were born, their harmonies, their phrasing, their lyrics (singing often in what they called “gibberish”), was something no one had heard before.

Read the full column >>

Women in Jazz and Blues: Jeannie Cheatham • Big Mama Thornton • Sippie Wallace

May 2025

One of the best concerts I ever attended was the PBS Special at the Belly Up Tavern in 1983, featuring Three Generations of the Blues, highlighting Sippie Wallace, Big Mama Thornton, and Jeannie Cheatham. Each of them, while well known by blues fans today perhaps didn’t always get the attention they should have. Big Mama and Sippie died not too long after the show, but Jeannie is still alive and actually lives in San Diego. The very cool thing about that concert, was how much they all were enjoying themselves.

Read the full column >>

Women in Jazz and Blues: Hazel Scott • Valaida Snow • Bricktop

April 2025

This month’s spotlight includes three musicians who were essentially driven out of the country, either by racism and/or politics. This period includes the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. This pattern seems to be repeating today but by different names (DEI, Woke, Censorship, etc.)

Read the full column >>

Women in Jazz and Blues: Lou Ann Barton • International Sweethearts of Rhythm • Jerrie Thill

March 2025

This month is officially Women’s History Month, or at least it used to be. I have chosen several women and/or bands that might be well-known to some, but mostly not to others. All of these musicians have made a big impact on me personally.

Read the full column >>

Women in Jazz and Blues: Marian McPartland, Hadda Brooks, and Camille Howard

February 2025

Blues and jazz are America’s original contribution to world culture. Because women (and others) have been consistently left out of the history books, it has been my passion to invoke their memory when appropriate. Some were so good, they can’t be ignored—people like Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, and Nina Simone to name a few. I would like to refresh or highlight the contributions of some of my favorites.

Read the full column >>

site created by Site Assemble Internet Services