Ida Goodson
Encyclopedia
Ida Goodson was an American
classic female blues
and jazz
singer plus pianist
.
, Florida
, the youngest of seven sisters, six of whom survived to adulthood. Her father and mother both played piano. Her father was deacon
at Pensacola's Mount Olive Baptist Church.
All of the daughters received tuition in music, with the sole intention of them performing in church. Indeed, Goodson noted that the blues
were banned in her house. However, Ida, Mabel, Della, Sadie, Edna, and Wilhemina
(more commonly known as Billie Pierce), all subsequently had careers in either blues or jazz. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
often had one of the Goodson sisters playing keyboards
. Goodson herself played the piano for accompaniment to silent film
s and at dances.
The Florida Folk Archive released a recording taken at the Florida Folk Festival
in 1980, comprising a duet
between Ida and Sadie Goodson. She received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1987.
In 2002 a stage show, The Goodson Sisters: Pensacola's Greatest Gift to Jazz, focused on Ida, Wilhemia, and Sadie Goodson.
The Wild Women Don't Have the Blues PBS
video included rare footage of Bessie Smith
and her one-time accompanist, Goodson. Music journalist
Chris Heim stated in the Chicago Tribune
; "Sprightly blues and gospel performer Ida Goodson - the scene stealer of the film - gives a stunning exhibition of the intimate connection between gospel and blues when she takes the song "Precious Lord
" from a rich, slow gospel opening to a rollicking boogie-woogie
conclusion."
In her senior years, Goodson played organ at several churches in Pensacola. An album was released by the Florida Folklife Program, Ida Goodson: Pensacola Piano—Florida Gulf Blues, Jazz, and Gospel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classic female blues
Classic female blues
Classic female blues was an early form of blues music, popular in the 1920s. An amalgam of traditional folk blues and urban theater music, the style is also known as vaudeville blues. Classic blues were performed by female vocalists accompanied by pianists or small jazz ensembles, and were the...
and 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...
singer plus 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:...
.
Biography
Goodson was born in PensacolaPensacola, 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...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, the youngest of seven sisters, six of whom survived to adulthood. Her father and mother both played piano. Her father was deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
at Pensacola's Mount Olive Baptist Church.
All of the daughters received tuition in music, with the sole intention of them performing in church. Indeed, Goodson noted that the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
were banned in her house. However, Ida, Mabel, Della, Sadie, Edna, and Wilhemina
Billie Pierce
Wilhelmina Goodson, better known as Billie Pierce was an American jazz pianist and singer.She was born in Marianna, Florida, United States one of seven piano-playing sisters , born to a mother and father who both themselves played piano...
(more commonly known as Billie Pierce), all subsequently had careers in either blues or jazz. 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...
often had one of the Goodson sisters playing keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. Goodson herself played the piano for accompaniment to silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s and at dances.
The Florida Folk Archive released a recording taken at the Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival is a long-running annual folk music festival in Hamilton County, Florida. -External links:**...
in 1980, comprising a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
between Ida and Sadie Goodson. She received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1987.
In 2002 a stage show, The Goodson Sisters: Pensacola's Greatest Gift to Jazz, focused on Ida, Wilhemia, and Sadie Goodson.
The Wild Women Don't Have the Blues PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
video included rare footage of 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...
and her one-time accompanist, Goodson. Music journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
Chris Heim stated in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
; "Sprightly blues and gospel performer Ida Goodson - the scene stealer of the film - gives a stunning exhibition of the intimate connection between gospel and blues when she takes the song "Precious Lord
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" is a gospel song, lyrics by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey , melody by George Nelson Allen .-History:...
" from a rich, slow gospel opening to a rollicking boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie has the following meanings:*Boogie-woogie, a piano-based music style*Boogie-woogie , a swing dance or a dance that imitates the rock-n-roll dance of the 1950s*"Boogie Woogie" , a song by EuroGroove and Dannii Minogue...
conclusion."
In her senior years, Goodson played organ at several churches in Pensacola. An album was released by the Florida Folklife Program, Ida Goodson: Pensacola Piano—Florida Gulf Blues, Jazz, and Gospel.