Ma Rainey was a real person. One of our earliest professional blues singers, she performed and recorded throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and her popularity and folksy style earned her the title “Mother ...

A representative said Hamilton died on June 19, “surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers,” the “Today” show reported. “Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left ...

Ferguson spoke to theartsdesk about her new album of Billie Holiday songs, Lady Sings the Blues, which is released this week to celebrate the centenary of Holiday’s birth. Holiday’s life, on paper a ...

Actress Lynn Hamilton, known for roles in “Sanford and Son,” “Dangerous Women” and “Generations,” has died. She was 95 years old. A representative said Hamilton died on June 19, “surrounded by her ...