Edmonia Henderson (December 25, 1898 or 1900 – February 17, 1947)[3][6] was an American classic female blues singer.[7] She was active as a recording artist in the mid-1920s, recording at least 14 songs between 1924 and 1926.[8] She later became an evangelist.[1]
Some sources state that she was born Jennie Katherine Edmonia Henderson, in Jefferson County, Kentucky (present-day Louisville), in 1900.[1][9] However, the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state that she was born Edmonia Kath Landen in Tennessee on December 25, 1898.[6]
Henderson appeared in vaudeville, both as a solo artist and as part of Joe Clark's Revue, performing on the Theater Owners Booking Association circuit, including appearances in Baltimore, Chicago, and Nashville.[5][10] In 1925, she performed in Radio Girls, another vaudeville revue, which included Bessie Williams, Mamie Jefferson, and Baby Badge.[11]
Henderson's first recording was made in 1924. She recorded "Dead Man Blues" in 1926, with accompaniment by the writer of the song, Jelly Roll Morton, on piano.[12] In 1927, a record of hers was released in the United Kingdom by the British record label Oriole, as part of its Race Series, under licence from Vocalion. The series also included recordings by Rosa Henderson and Viola McCoy.[13]
By 1928, she was teaching and giving gospel concerts at the Griffith Conservatory of Music in Louisville. In 1932, she married and became the Reverend Edmonia Buckner.[1][2]
Her work has appeared on various compilation albums, including The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records 1917–1927, Volume 1 (2013).[14]
^Smith, Gerald L.; McDaniel, Karen; Hardin, John A. (2015). The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 602. ISBN9780813160672.
^Kelley, Norman (2002). R&B, Rhythm and Business: The Political Economy of Black Music. New York City: Akashic Books. pp. 107–108. ISBN1-888451-68-8.
