Kate McTell (born Ruthy Kate Williams; August 22, 1911 – October 3, 1991)[1][2][3] was an American blues musician and nurse from Jefferson County, Georgia. She is known primarily as the former wife of the blues musician Blind Willie McTell, whom she accompanied vocally on several recordings. She may have recorded as Ruby Glaze, but there is some uncertainty about whether she and Glaze were the same person, despite the fact that she claimed to be Glaze.
Kate McTell
Birth name
Ruthy Kate Williams
Also known as
Ruby Glaze
Born
(1911-08-22)August 22, 1911 Savannah, Georgia, United States
Early life and marriage to Blind Willie McTelledit
Ruthy (later changed to Ruth) Kate Williams was born in Savannah, Georgia. She was singing for a high-school ceremony in Augusta, Georgia, in 1933 when she was noticed by McTell, who regularly performed in the area.[1][4] In an interview conducted by the musicologist David Evans and his family, she stated that she and Willie met at a Christmas concert at her school in 1931.[5] She went on to explain that Willie invited her to record with him, that they did so in Atlanta over the course of a week, and that she then returned to Augusta to continue her schooling at Paine College. According to Michael Gray, that week of recording would have been in February 1932.[5] The McTells were married on January 11, 1934. For the next six years she often accompanied Willie on stage, singing or dancing, in performances in Chicago, Atlanta and elsewhere, and in the company of artists such as Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith.[1] The two were invited to record for Decca Records by executive Mayo Williams in 1935, but the recordings from these sessions had extremely limited releases. In late June 1936, they recorded 12 blues songs with Piano Red for Vocalion Records.
In 1939, she obtained a nursing certificate from Grady Hospital in Atlanta, and from 1942 until 1971 she was an army nurse at Fort Gordon hospital, near Augusta.[1] As Willie lived in Atlanta for his career, the two rarely saw each other and drifted apart.[1][6] Much of what is known about her husband comes from the interview she gave with the Evans family, published in Blues Unlimited magazine in 1977.[7]
After his deathedit
Ten years after her husband's death in 1959,[citation needed] she married Johnny E. Seabrooks, who was in the military. They had two children, Ernest and April.[1] She retired from the hospital in 1971. After Seabrooks died in 1976, she lived a fairly private life, except for interviews she gave in 1977, 1979, and 1981 about Willie McTell.[6] She died in Augusta, Georgia, on October 3, 1991.[1]
As Ruby Glazeedit
There is some uncertainty as to whether Ruby Glaze, a singer with whom Willie McTell recorded in 1932, is the same person as Kate McTell.[8] In an interview conducted in the 1970s, she claimed that she was Glaze.[9] The uncertainty stems from confusion over when she first met Willie and whether or not this was after he had recorded with Glaze.[citation needed]Bruce Bastin gave the year of their meeting as 1931,[10] at her graduation from Paine College, in Augusta, Georgia, and stated that immediately afterward she went on to Washington High in Atlanta, which is where and when Willie recorded with Glaze. Bastin also noted the similarities between Glaze's spoken parts in "Searching the Desert for the Blues" and the ones in the McTells' recording of "Ticket Agent Blues" in 1935. As mentioned above, McTell told the musicologist David Evans and his family that she had met Willie in late 1931 and that they recorded soon afterward over the course of a week. Gray placed this recording in February 1932.[5] Some sources have claimed that McTell and Glaze are the same person,[11][12][13] while others have claimed that they are not.[4]
Discographyedit
Kate McTell appears on a small number of albums, generally accompanying her husband on vocals.[14]
Blind Willie McTell 1927–1949 (Willie McTell)
Mississippi-Memphis-Chicago Blues (various artists)
The Essential (Willie McTell)
Gospel, Vol. 3: Guitar Evangelists and Bluesmen 1927–1944 (various artists)
Le Gospel 1939–1952 (various artists), containing a solo track, "Dying Gambler"
Other informationedit
She is referred to in a blues song, "Blind Willie", by Hans Theessink, in the lyric "Ruthy Kate leading Willie by the hand".[15]
Citationsedit
^ abcdefg"Ramblin' Rhodes: Blind Willie had a soulmate". The Augusta Chronicle. 2000-05-12. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
^Taft, Michael. 2005. Talkin' to Myself: Blues Lyrics, 1921–1942. New York: Routledge. p. 213. ISBN0415973775.
^Conner, Patrick. "Blind Willie McTell 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine". East Coast Piedmont Blues. University of North Carolina. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
Bastin, B.Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast. 1986. Illini Books. ISBN0-252-01213-5. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
Gray, M.Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell. 2007. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. ISBN978-1-55652-975-7. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
Further readingedit
Printed publicationsedit
Evans, David (1977). "Kate McTell". Blues Unlimited 125 (July/August 1977), pp. 8–16; 127 (November/December 1977), pp. 20–22. [1].
Read, Jill (1981). “Kate McTell Remembers: One Travelin’ Man and the Blues". Athens Observer, 29 January 1981. .
kate, mctell, born, ruthy, kate, williams, august, 1911, october, 1991, american, blues, musician, nurse, from, jefferson, county, georgia, known, primarily, former, wife, blues, musician, blind, willie, mctell, whom, accompanied, vocally, several, recordings,. Kate McTell born Ruthy Kate Williams August 22 1911 October 3 1991 1 2 3 was an American blues musician and nurse from Jefferson County Georgia She is known primarily as the former wife of the blues musician Blind Willie McTell whom she accompanied vocally on several recordings She may have recorded as Ruby Glaze but there is some uncertainty about whether she and Glaze were the same person despite the fact that she claimed to be Glaze Kate McTellBirth nameRuthy Kate WilliamsAlso known asRuby GlazeBorn 1911 08 22 August 22 1911Savannah Georgia United StatesOriginAtlanta Georgia United StatesDiedOctober 3 1991 1991 10 03 aged 80 Augusta Georgia United StatesGenresBlues gospelOccupation s Musician nurseInstrument s VocalsYears active1932 1940LabelsDecca Vocalion Contents 1 Early life and marriage to Blind Willie McTell 2 After his death 3 As Ruby Glaze 4 Discography 5 Other information 6 Citations 7 References 8 Further reading 8 1 Printed publications 9 External linksEarly life and marriage to Blind Willie McTell editRuthy later changed to Ruth Kate Williams was born in Savannah Georgia She was singing for a high school ceremony in Augusta Georgia in 1933 when she was noticed by McTell who regularly performed in the area 1 4 In an interview conducted by the musicologist David Evans and his family she stated that she and Willie met at a Christmas concert at her school in 1931 5 She went on to explain that Willie invited her to record with him that they did so in Atlanta over the course of a week and that she then returned to Augusta to continue her schooling at Paine College According to Michael Gray that week of recording would have been in February 1932 5 The McTells were married on January 11 1934 For the next six years she often accompanied Willie on stage singing or dancing in performances in Chicago Atlanta and elsewhere and in the company of artists such as Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith 1 The two were invited to record for Decca Records by executive Mayo Williams in 1935 but the recordings from these sessions had extremely limited releases In late June 1936 they recorded 12 blues songs with Piano Red for Vocalion Records In 1939 she obtained a nursing certificate from Grady Hospital in Atlanta and from 1942 until 1971 she was an army nurse at Fort Gordon hospital near Augusta 1 As Willie lived in Atlanta for his career the two rarely saw each other and drifted apart 1 6 Much of what is known about her husband comes from the interview she gave with the Evans family published in Blues Unlimited magazine in 1977 7 After his death editTen years after her husband s death in 1959 citation needed she married Johnny E Seabrooks who was in the military They had two children Ernest and April 1 She retired from the hospital in 1971 After Seabrooks died in 1976 she lived a fairly private life except for interviews she gave in 1977 1979 and 1981 about Willie McTell 6 She died in Augusta Georgia on October 3 1991 1 As Ruby Glaze editThere is some uncertainty as to whether Ruby Glaze a singer with whom Willie McTell recorded in 1932 is the same person as Kate McTell 8 In an interview conducted in the 1970s she claimed that she was Glaze 9 The uncertainty stems from confusion over when she first met Willie and whether or not this was after he had recorded with Glaze citation needed Bruce Bastin gave the year of their meeting as 1931 10 at her graduation from Paine College in Augusta Georgia and stated that immediately afterward she went on to Washington High in Atlanta which is where and when Willie recorded with Glaze Bastin also noted the similarities between Glaze s spoken parts in Searching the Desert for the Blues and the ones in the McTells recording of Ticket Agent Blues in 1935 As mentioned above McTell told the musicologist David Evans and his family that she had met Willie in late 1931 and that they recorded soon afterward over the course of a week Gray placed this recording in February 1932 5 Some sources have claimed that McTell and Glaze are the same person 11 12 13 while others have claimed that they are not 4 Discography editKate McTell appears on a small number of albums generally accompanying her husband on vocals 14 Blind Willie McTell 1927 1949 Willie McTell Mississippi Memphis Chicago Blues various artists The Essential Willie McTell Gospel Vol 3 Guitar Evangelists and Bluesmen 1927 1944 various artists Le Gospel 1939 1952 various artists containing a solo track Dying Gambler Other information editShe is referred to in a blues song Blind Willie by Hans Theessink in the lyric Ruthy Kate leading Willie by the hand 15 Citations edit a b c d e f g Ramblin Rhodes Blind Willie had a soulmate The Augusta Chronicle 2000 05 12 Retrieved 2015 05 31 Taft Michael 2005 Talkin to Myself Blues Lyrics 1921 1942 New York Routledge p 213 ISBN 0415973775 Informacje o wykonawcy Archived from the original on 2005 05 24 a b Blind Wille McTell Archived from the original on 2007 08 19 a b c Gray 2007 p 230 a b Birthdays August 22 Archived from the original on 2011 09 29 Home Offshore Web Hosting FreeBSD VPS Self Managed Hosting Hub Org Bluesnet hub org Archived from the original on 2010 04 20 Retrieved 2014 07 12 Bastin 1986 p 132 Gray 2007 p 229 Bastin 1986 p 133 Conner Patrick Blind Willie McTell Archived 2013 11 01 at the Wayback Machine East Coast Piedmont Blues University of North Carolina Retrieved 2011 09 23 Jazz Times volume 28 issues 2 5 1998 Jazztimes retrieved 2011 09 23 Old Time Herald volume 6 number 2 Reviews Oldtimeherald org Retrieved 2014 07 12 Kate McTell Archived from the original on 2007 10 11 Hans Theessink Theessink com Retrieved 2014 07 12 References editBastin B Red River Blues The Blues Tradition in the Southeast 1986 Illini Books ISBN 0 252 01213 5 Retrieved 2011 09 22 Gray M Hand Me My Travelin Shoes In Search of Blind Willie McTell 2007 Bloomsbury Publishing London ISBN 978 1 55652 975 7 Retrieved 2011 09 22 Further reading editPrinted publications edit Evans David 1977 Kate McTell Blues Unlimited 125 July August 1977 pp 8 16 127 November December 1977 pp 20 22 1 Read Jill 1981 Kate McTell Remembers One Travelin Man and the Blues Athens Observer 29 January 1981 2 External links editKate McTell at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kate McTell amp oldid 1180798249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
