BMS Backstage

BMS Backstage is a new monthly series that takes our community behind the scenes and on a journey through BMS, the history, the community and by celebrating historical and contemporary aspects of music and the performing arts . Anika Rahman our new and brilliant marketing intern explores contemporary and historical subjects through the lens of the building, programming, events and our local and global community connections.

As an organization that values music on a daily basis, we feel it is vital to remember and celebrate the stories that underpin much of today’s music. Throughout history, the women highlighted this month have made tremendous contributions to music and the arts; they have pushed the boundaries of creative expression, defied racial stereotypes, and created music that will last generations. This March let us pause to remember these iconic women and celebrate Women in Music and Arts!

Ma Rainey - Blues 

Ma Rainey is a vital figure in music history whose contributions to blues are still seen today. She was born Gertrude Pridgett Rainy into a family of singers. Rainey demonstrated her musical talent early on, beginning her career at the age of fourteen by performing in local talent shows; she later began performing in vaudeville and minstrel shows. Rainey was one of the first black female vocalists to earn a livelihood from singing blues music. Her powerful voice, passion for singing, and raw emotion spoke to the experiences of many Black southerners. In fact, she was so influential that she became known as “The Mother of the Blues”. She is credited for popularizing blues music before it evolved into early jazz, with songs such as "Bo-Weevil Blues" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom". Her influence on these genres speaks volumes, as she remains one of the foundations around which jazz has been constructed, and for that history will be eternally thankful.

Mary Lou Williams - Jazz/Piano

Mary Lou Williams Mary Lou Williams is a pivotal figure in jazz history, best recognized for her piano abilities and famous compositions and arrangements. Williams, who was born in Georgia in 1910, began playing the piano at the young age of six. As a child, she performed at University of Pittsburgh's events and for prominent Pittsburgh families such as the Carnegies and the Mellons. In her early career, she performed with the famous Andy Kirk and was a member of the "Twelve Clouds of Joy" band, branded as the "Woman Who Swings the Band." Williams was recognized for her inventive harmonies that blended fast tempos and improvisation. During her career, she composed hundreds of works and collaborated with some of jazz's most important musicians, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie. Most importantly, she acted as an inspiration and mentor to many young Black performers, making vital contributions to the past and future of jazz.

Peggy Jones - Rock/Guitar

Peggy Jones has long been regarded as a legendary figure in music history. On stage, she was known as Lady Bo and was recognized as one of the first famous female guitarists. She grew up performing, playing the ukulele, and studying ballet and opera. At the age of fifteen, Jones bought her first guitar, playing in a local group called The Bop-Chords. Her career officially began in 1957 when she met Bo Diddley backstage at the Apollo Theater. There, he invited her to join his band as a guitarist. It was then that Jones began to invent herself as one of the first female lead roll and roll guitarists. In 1961, she left the band to focus on her solo career with the Jewels who were very popular in the east coast club scene. As the Queen Mother of Guitar, Lady Bo laid the foundations for what would result in the unique sounds of modern rhythm and blues and jazz-fusion genres and will surely remain part of America's cultural history for decades to come.

Chen Yi - Classical/Violin 

Chen Yi is a composer whose music draws from both Western and Chinese traditions which have significantly developed contemporary classical music. Yi’s music journey began at a young age and was greatly influenced by her father's collection of music records and orchestral scores. By fifteen, she was even able to learn the solo parts of classical music compositions for the instrument. Unfortunately, the 1966 Cultural Revolution posed a major roadblock in her musical journey. As part of Mao Tse-Tung's purging of educated professionals from positions of influence, Chen's home was searched and all music was seized by Red Guards. Chen and her siblings were sent to a work camp in the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. She was still allowed to play the violin, but only during revolutionary songs. Chen was given more flexibility with her songs and eventually was permitted to study music when the cultural landscape started taking root again. In 1986 Chen became the first woman in China to receive a master's degree in composition from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. As a composer and lecturer at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Li is still shaping classical music today.

Acknowledging Women in Music and the Arts is an opportunity to celebrate and remember the contributions of iconic women who have long inspired us. Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, Nina Simone, Mary Lou Williams, and Sarah Vaughan are just a few of the revolutionary figures that we should all make an effort to recognize. This month encourages us to acknowledge those who blazed a path --and we should keep their stories alive by streaming their music and telling their stories. With the immeasurable gratitude we owe these women, let’s recognize their incredible legacies--not just in February or March but with each passing day.