Biography
Ida Cox, born Ida Prather on February 25, 1894, in Toccoa, Georgia, was a pioneering blues singer and vaudeville performer who helped found the female blues genre alongside Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey and Bessie Smith[3][4][8]. Raised in Cedartown, she sang in her church choir before leaving home as a teenager to tour with minstrel revues such as the White and Clark's Black & Tan Minstrels and the Rabbit Foot Minstrels[8]. Her early career was shaped by the vibrant Southern tent show and vaudeville circuit, where she developed her commanding stage presence and business acumen.
Cox made her first blues recordings in 1923 for Paramount Records, including 'Graveyard Dream Blues' and 'Weary Way Blues,' and quickly rose to prominence as the 'Uncrowned Queen of the Blues'[3][4][5]. Over the next six years, she recorded nearly ninety songs, many of which she wrote herself, such as the enduring 'Wild Women Don't Have the Blues.' Her music often addressed themes relevant to Black women, touching on social issues, sexual freedom, and dignity. Cox was known for managing her own touring company, Raisin' Cain, and producing her own stage shows, a rarity for women in her era[4][6].
Her career spanned vaudeville, blues, and jazz, collaborating with notable musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and Lovie Austin[4][5]. Cox performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in 1939 as part of John Hammond's 'From Spirituals to Swing' concert[4][6]. After suffering a stroke in 1945, she retired from touring but made her final recording, 'Blues for Rampart Street,' in 1961. Ida Cox's legacy endures as a trailblazer who gave voice to the experiences of Black women and helped shape the classic blues era[3][4][6].
Fun Facts
- Ida Cox often used pseudonyms such as Kate Lewis, Velma Bradley, Julia Powers, and Jane Smith when recording for different labels[4].
- She managed her own touring company, Raisin' Cain, an uncommon achievement for women in the 1920s blues scene[4][6].
- Cox's song 'Wild Women Don't Have the Blues' became an anthem for female empowerment and is widely covered by later artists[4][6].
- She performed at Carnegie Hall in 1939 for John Hammond's historic 'From Spirituals to Swing' concert, introducing blues to a broader audience[4][6].
Associated Acts
- Ida Cox and Her Five Blue Spells - eponymous
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Ma Rainey - Genre founder and early inspiration; both performed with Rabbit Foot Minstrels (Shared blues circuit, stylistic influence) [1910s-1920s]
- Bessie Smith - Genre founder and peer; shared performance circuits (Shared blues circuit, stylistic influence) [1920s]
Key Collaborators
- Jelly Roll Morton - Pianist and bandleader; performed together in vaudeville and blues venues (Plantation Café appearances, touring) [1920s]
- Lovie Austin - Pianist; accompanied Cox on many Paramount recordings (Paramount sessions) [1923-1929]
Artists Influenced
- Dinah Washington - Inspired by Cox's liberated spirit and blues delivery (Blues and jazz vocal style) [1940s-1950s]
- Modern blues and jazz vocalists - Cox's songwriting and themes influenced generations of female blues singers (Covers of 'Wild Women Don't Have the Blues') [1930s-present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Singled Out | 2013-05-03 | Album |
| Behind Closed Doors | 2013-01-26 | Album |
| The Collection - taken from superstar (Part 1) | 2011-11-04 | Album |
| Robosoul | 2010-03-30 | Album |
| One | 2008 | Album |
| The Collection - taken from superstar (Deluxe Edition) | 2011-11-04 | Album |
| Tonight I'm Your DJ (feat. Fatman Scoop) | 2012-11-09 | Album |
| What Goes Around Comes Around | 2012-01-20 | Album |
| Corr Values | 2013-10-28 | Album |
| Hold My Head up High | 2013-07-15 | Album |
| Ida Corr Unplugged (Live) | 2018-12-21 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Let Me Think About It (Singled Out)
- Think About It
- Let Me Think About It - Radio Edit
- Let Me Think About It Again
- Let Me Think About It - Celebration Mix - Radio Edit
- Whats the Prob Dog? (Let Me Think About It)
- Let Me Think About It Again (360 Yellow (Deluxe Version))
- Let Me Think About It - Club Mix
- Keep Hope Alive
- Sjus (feat. Ida Corr, Camille Jones & Johnson) - KATO Edit (Discolized 2.0)
External Links
Tags: #blues, #vaudeville-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
IDA COX has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2025 | 19:14 | bone orchard blues | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Oct 22, 2025 | 10:10 | SCOTTLE DE DOOfrom IDA COX VOLUME 3 | Traditional Jazzw/ Tom Saunders | |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 10:39 | DO LAWD DOfrom EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT | Traditional Jazzw/ Tom Saunders |