MARION ABERNATHY

 

Marion Abernathy (born around 1920 in Chicago, died after 1960) was an American rhythm & blues singer, also known as The Blues Woman, who was active on the West Coast of the USA.

Life and work

Abernathy, a discovery by Johnny Otis, was among the musicians who played a key role in launching Art Rupe's R&B label Specialty Records.  Their song "Voo It! Voo It!", first recorded in 1944 for the predecessor label Juke-Box, was the label's second release and became a regional hit in 1945. In the same year she recorded for regional labels such as Bel-Tone and Melodisc Records, accompanied by Buddy Banks, Bob Mosely and Lucky Thompson, among others.  With Wynonie Harris, Jo Jo Adams, T-Bone Walker and Mabel Scott, she was one of the stars of the African-American music scene on Central Avenue in Los Angeles during this time. 

She took a number of R&B titles in the post-war years such as "Baggin' the Boogie", "Goin' for the Okey-Doke". "Ja-Hoosey Baby", "My Man Boogie" (with Hot Lips Page 1947), "Undecided" and "You Ain't Got Nothin' for Me" (with Paul Bascomb). During her recordings for King Records in 1949, she was accompanied by Joe Newman, Marshall Royal, Bumps Myers, Gerry Wiggins and Chico Hamilton. According to Tom Lord, she was involved in nine recording sessions between 1945 and 1949. As late as 1960 she recorded for small labels. 

Discography

The Chronological Marion Abernathy: 1947–1949 (Classics, ed. 2001)

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Marion Abernathy Biography by Bruce Eder in allmusic 

Marion Abernathy, otherwise known as "the Blues Woman," was one of a handful of artists who played a key role in starting Specialty Records. In 1944, founder Art Rupe, having felt cheated in his first partnership in a record label, put together what was then known as Juke Box Records. Abernathy, who he dubbed "the Blues Woman," was the second artist ever released on the label (backed by the Buddy Banks Sextet) doing "Voo-It! Voo-It!," co-written by saxman Banks and guitarist William "Frosty" Pyles. She may have left behind as many as a dozen tracks from this period.