SWEET EMMA BARRETT

Biography

Sweet Emma Barrett, born Emma Barrett on March 25, 1897, in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a pioneering self-taught jazz pianist and singer whose career spanned over seven decades. She began playing piano at the age of seven and was performing publicly by the time she was twelve, quickly becoming a beloved figure in the New Orleans music scene. Barrett never learned to read music but possessed an extraordinary ear, able to transpose pieces instantly by ear. Her early career included stints with the Original Tuxedo Orchestra under Oscar 'Papa' Celestin and William Ridgely, and later with ensembles led by Sidney Desvigne, Armand Piron, and John Robichaux. After a semi-retirement, Barrett returned to prominence in the late 1940s, performing at the Happy Landing Club and eventually forming her own group, Sweet Emma and the Bells, which toured nationally and internationally.

Barrett was known for her distinctive barrelhouse piano style and her unique vocal delivery, often laced with double entendres and humor. Her flamboyant stage presence, marked by her signature red beanie cap and garters adorned with jingling bells, earned her the nickname 'the Bell Gal.' She became a featured performer with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and was celebrated for breaking barriers for women in jazz. Barrett's 1961 recording debut brought her international fame, and she continued to perform and record into her later years, leaving a lasting legacy as an ambassador of New Orleans jazz.

Fun Facts

• Sweet Emma Barrett was known as 'the Bell Gal' because she wore garters with Christmas bells that jingled while she played piano.
• She was featured on the cover of Glamour magazine, highlighting her international recognition.
• Barrett never learned to read music but could transpose pieces instantly by ear, a skill that made her highly adaptable in live performances.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Oscar 'Papa' Celestin - Barrett played under Celestin's direction in the Original Tuxedo Orchestra, which was a formative experience in her early career. (Original Tuxedo Orchestra) [1923-1928]
• William Ridgely - Barrett continued with Ridgely after the Original Tuxedo Orchestra split, further developing her style in his ensemble. (Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra) [1928-1936]

Key Collaborators

• Percy Humphrey - Barrett worked closely with Humphrey, both as a bandleader and as a fellow musician in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. (Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sweet Emma and the Bells) [1950s-1960s]
• Willie Humphrey - Barrett collaborated with Willie Humphrey, Percy's brother, as a clarinetist in her ensemble. (Sweet Emma and the Bells) [1950s-1960s]
• Jim Robinson - Barrett performed with trombonist Jim Robinson on her Riverside recordings. (Sweet Emma and The Bell Gal and Her Dixieland Boys (Riverside, 1961)) [1960-1961]
• Israel Gorman - Barrett worked with clarinetist Israel Gorman during the 1950s and 1960s. (Various ensembles) [1950s-1960s]

Artists Influenced

• Women in Jazz - Barrett was a trailblazer for female musicians in a male-dominated field, inspiring generations of women to pursue careers in jazz. (Her legacy as a pioneering woman in jazz) [1920s-1983]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)
2. None of My Jelly Roll (Her New Orleans Music)
3. Jelly Roll Blues (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)
4. When I Grow Too Old to Dream (Her New Orleans Music)
5. Big Butter And Egg Man (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)
6. A Good Man Is Hard to Find (Her New Orleans Music)
7. Bill Bailey (Her New Orleans Music)
8. That's A Plenty (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)
9. Pagan Love Song (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)
10. Take Me Out To The Ball (Sweet Emma Barrett And Her New Orleans Music)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia