Sophie Tucker - Blue River

Sophie Tucker (née Sonia Kalish, 1884-1966) was a Russian-born American singer and actress. Known for her stentorian delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popular entertainers in America during the first two-thirds of the 20th century. She made a name for herself in a style that was known at the time as a "Coon Shouter," performing African American influenced songs. Not content with performing in the simple minstrel traditions, Tucker hired some of the best African American singers of the time to give her lessons, and hired African American composers to write songs for her act. Tucker made her first appearance in the Ziegfeld Follies in 1909. She continued performing in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, until shortly before her death from lung cancer in 1966 In addition to her performing, Tucker was active in efforts to unionize professional actors, and was elected president of the American Federation of Actors in 1938. This superb recording was made in 1927.