LIZZIE MILES

Biography

Lizzie Miles, born Elizabeth Mary Landreaux on March 31, 1895, in New Orleans, Louisiana, emerged as one of the early voices of classic blues and jazz. Raised in a Creole family in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, she grew up speaking French and Kouri-Vini, and began singing in her Catholic church as a child[3][4]. By her teens, she was performing with top New Orleans musicians including King Oliver, Kid Ory, and Bunk Johnson, quickly establishing herself in the vibrant local music scene[1][2][4].

Miles's career flourished as she toured the southern vaudeville and minstrel circuits, worked in circuses, and eventually moved to Chicago in the late 1910s. There, she performed with Elgar's Creole Orchestra, Freddie Keppard, and King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band[1][2]. In 1922, she relocated to New York, making her recording debut with Okeh Records and collaborating with Sam Wooding and A.J. Piron. Her versatility allowed her to sing pop ballads, vaudeville standards, and jazz-infused blues, both in French and English[4][5]. She toured Europe in 1924–1925, performing in Paris before returning to New York, where she remained active through the 1930s, working with artists like Fats Waller and Paul Barbarin. After a period of illness and semi-retirement, Miles revived her career in the 1950s, notably recording with the Bob Scobey Band and appearing at the Monterey Jazz Festival before retiring in 1959[1][5].

Miles was known for her expressive voice and emotional delivery, preferring to be recognized as a singer of many styles rather than solely a blues artist[4][5]. Her legacy includes nearly seventy recordings and a reputation as the "Creole Songbird." She influenced the development of jazz and blues, bridging early New Orleans traditions with later revivals. Lizzie Miles died of a heart attack on March 17, 1963[1][5].

Fun Facts

• Lizzie Miles was nicknamed the 'Creole Songbird' and sang in both French and English[4][5].
• She sometimes recorded under pseudonyms such as Mandy Smith and Jane Howard[1][4].
• Miles was the half-sister of blues singer Edna Hicks and trumpet player Herb Morand[1][3].
• She appeared in two films during the early 1930s, despite illness curtailing her music career[3].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• King Oliver - Early New Orleans bandleader; Miles sang with his band as a teenager (Performances with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band) [1909–1911, 1918–1920]
• Kid Ory - Trombonist and early collaborator in New Orleans (Performances in New Orleans jazz bands) [1909–1911]
• Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey - Friend of King Oliver and influential blues performer; may have influenced Miles (Possible influence through New Orleans connections) [1910s]

Key Collaborators

• A.J. Piron - Band leader and publisher; Miles worked as song plugger and performer (Performances and publishing work) [1910s–1920s]
• Sam Wooding - Orchestra leader; collaborated in New York clubs and cabarets (Club performances) [1922–1924]
• Jelly Roll Morton - Pioneering jazz pianist; recorded duets with Miles (Duets recorded in 1929) [1929]
• Fats Waller - Pianist and bandleader; Miles sang with his group (Live performances in New York) [1938]
• Bob Scobey - Band leader during Miles's comeback in the 1950s (Recordings and performances) [1950s]
• Paul Barbarin - Drummer and bandleader; collaborated in New York (Performances and recordings) [1935–1939]

Artists Influenced

• Herb Morand - Half-brother and trumpet player; performed together in New York (Collaborative performances) [1926–1931]
• Edna Hicks - Half-sister and blues singer; familial and stylistic influence (Parallel careers in blues) [1920s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. A Good Man Is Hard to Find (My Pillow and Me)
2. Cotton Belt Blues (Lizzie Miles Vol. 2 (1923-1928))
3. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
4. Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine (Moans and Blues)
5. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
6. Cotton Belt Blues (My Pillow and Me)
7. A Good Man Is Hard to Find - Alternate Take (My Pillow and Me)
8. My Pillow And Me (Lizzie Miles Vol. 2 (1923-1928))
9. Lonesome Ghost Blues (Lizzie Miles Vol. 2 (1923-1928))
10. Basin Street Blues No. 70 (Lizzie Miles)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia