Against a backdrop of oppression and segre gation \;in the post slavery era\, musical artists Ida Cox\, Ma Rainey \, Alberta Hunter\, Billie Holliday\, and Bessie \;Smith \, to name a few&mdash\; were not only great entertainers\, but their unapologetically honest and \;sometimes bawdy or controversial lyrics\, inspired fearle ssness and authenticity\, while thrilling crowds \;across America. In this program\, Kirsten Thien &\; Erik Boyd perform select songs from th ese ladies&rsquo\; 1920s and \;30's catalogs\, talking about and demon strating some of their original styles\, describing the conditions \;a nd lifestyle these women endured in order to bring the Blues to the greate r public\, and how\, as the \;Blues caught on\, would significantly tr ansform over time both musically and culturally while retaining \;elem ents of the original styles. Kirsten and Erik also share a few of their ow n original contemporary \;Blues songs and discuss how the early Blues women still inspire music today&mdash\;almost 100 years \;later!
\nAbout the performers:
\nKirsten Thien&rsquo\;s u nlikely path from a Business School graduate to a \;Blues and Roots Ro ck singer/songwriter began just weeks before \;college graduation when she decided to forgo a career on Wall Street \;for a life in music. S ince then she has released five studio albums and \;toured the USA\, C anada and Europe extensively. Her most recent \;release &ldquo\;Two Si des&rdquo\; has enjoyed worldwide radio airplay and held a \;top 5 pos ition on the Root Music Report Blues Charts for over three \;months.\n
Erik Boyd is a musician\, writer\, and producer. He has \;toure d\, recorded\, or played bass with The Mamas &\; The Papas\, Black \;47\, Mary Wells\, Little Anthony\, and many more. In recent years\, Erik \;has played shows in Norway\, Germany\, Ukraine\, and India.
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