Billie Pierce
Encyclopedia
Wilhelmina Goodson, better known as Billie Pierce (June 8, 1907 – September 29, 1974) was an American
jazz
pianist
and singer.
She was born in Marianna, Florida
, United States
one of seven piano-playing sisters (including Ida Goodson
), born to a mother and father who both themselves played piano. Early in the 1920s, Pierce played with Bessie Smith
in a theater in Pensacola, Florida
, and later in the decade played in the bands of Alphonse Picou
, Emile Barnes
, and George Lewis
. In the 1930s she played at the Blue Jay Club, where she met trumpeter De De Pierce
; the two fell in love, married, and co-led their own ensemble, which served as the house band
at Luthjen's Dance Hall in the 1950s. She played in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
, and was a regular on the New Orleans jazz
scene in the 1950s through the early 1970s.
She died in September 1974, in New Orleans, Louisiana
, at the age of 67. Her husband had died the previous November, aged 69.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and singer.
She was born in Marianna, Florida
Marianna, Florida
Marianna is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,200 . It is the county seat of Jackson County and is home to Chipola College...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
one of seven piano-playing sisters (including Ida Goodson
Ida Goodson
Ida Goodson was an American classic female blues and jazz singer plus pianist.-Biography:Goodson was born in Pensacola, Florida, the youngest of seven sisters, six of whom survived to adulthood. Her father and mother both played piano...
), born to a mother and father who both themselves played piano. Early in the 1920s, Pierce played with Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s...
in a theater in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, and later in the decade played in the bands of Alphonse Picou
Alphonse Picou
Alphonse Floristan Picou was an important very early jazz clarinetist who also wrote and arranged music....
, Emile Barnes
Emile Barnes
Emile Barnes was a New Orleans jazz clarinetist.Barnes studied under Lorenzo Tio Jr., Alphonse Picou, George Baquet, and Big Eye Nelson. Active professionally in New Orleans by 1908, he was long well regarded locally for his bluesy and distinctively individualistic style. He played with the Chris...
, and George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
. In the 1930s she played at the Blue Jay Club, where she met trumpeter De De Pierce
De De Pierce
De De Pierce was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. He is best remembered for the songs "Peanut Vendor" and "Dippermouth Blues", both with Billie Pierce....
; the two fell in love, married, and co-led their own ensemble, which served as the house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
at Luthjen's Dance Hall in the 1950s. She played in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the name for numerous groups of Dixieland Jazz and traditional jazz bands at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, and on tours as organized by the Preservation Hall...
, and was a regular on the New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
scene in the 1950s through the early 1970s.
She died in September 1974, in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, at the age of 67. Her husband had died the previous November, aged 69.