Alberta Hunter

Alberta Hunter was born in Memphis in 1895. She left home at 15 and eventually made her way to Chicago, where she began performing in clubs. In 1927, she signed with Paramount Records and recorded her debut single, "Downhearted Blues." Her 1934 recording "Handy Man" became one of her best-known songs.

Hunter's music sometimes addressed social issues directly. Her 1930 song "Birth Control Blues" drew criticism from conservative groups and led to some radio stations refusing to play her records. She continued performing and recording through the decades, with songs like "Beale Street Blues" and "Always" in her repertoire.

She worked as a nurse for a period in the 1950s, then returned to performing in the 1970s with a successful comeback that lasted into her eighties. Hunter died in 1984, having maintained a performing career that spanned more than six decades.