Virginia Liston
Encyclopedia
Virginia Liston was an American
classic female blues
and jazz
singer. She spent most of her career in black
vaudeville
. Liston recorded "You Can Dip Your Bread In My Gravy, But You Can't Have None Of My Chops," and "Just Take One Long Last Lingering Look." She worked with her then husband, Samuel H. Gray, billed as Liston And Liston, and also alongside Clarence Williams. In the latter context, she sang with both the Clarence Williams Blue Five on "You've Got The Right Key, But The Wrong Keyhole," and "Early In The Morning"; and the Clarence Williams Washboard Band on "Cushion Foot Stomp," and "P.D.Q. Blues."
In 1920 she was married to a fellow entertainer, Sam Gray, and toured with him as part of a husband and wife act on the T.O.B.A.
circuit, billed as Liston and Liston. The billing was unusual, but because Liston was better known than Gray, he took her surname. In January 1924 they recorded
one single
together. However, by 1925 they had divorce
d. Liston met Clarence Williams in the early part of the 1920s, and he first recorded with her on Okeh Records
in September 1923. Thirty six tracks were released in Liston's name up to 1926, on both Okeh and Vocalion Records
. The most noteworthy of those releases were those recorded by Liston and Williams' Blue Five, who in those days included Louis Armstrong
and Sidney Bechet
in their number.
By 1927 Liston had made her final recording session. In conjunction with the Clarence Williams Washboard Band, she recorded "Cushion Foot Stomp," and "P.D.Q. Blues". Her song, "You Don't Know My Mind Blues," was credited to the songwriting
team of Gray, Liston and Williams. Several of her songs contained sexual innuendo. In 1926, in a song that she wrote herself, Liston opined her "Rolls Royce Papa" had a "bent piston rod."
In 1929 Liston remarried and announced her retirement from show business
. She duly relocated to St. Louis
, Missouri
and worked for her local church.
She died, from causes unknown, in June 1932 in St. Louis. All her recordings have been made available by Document Records
(see below).
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. She spent most of her career in black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
. Liston recorded "You Can Dip Your Bread In My Gravy, But You Can't Have None Of My Chops," and "Just Take One Long Last Lingering Look." She worked with her then husband, Samuel H. Gray, billed as Liston And Liston, and also alongside Clarence Williams. In the latter context, she sang with both the Clarence Williams Blue Five on "You've Got The Right Key, But The Wrong Keyhole," and "Early In The Morning"; and the Clarence Williams Washboard Band on "Cushion Foot Stomp," and "P.D.Q. Blues."
Biography
Little detail is known about Liston's childhood. She made her start in show business circa 1912 in either Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1920 she was married to a fellow entertainer, Sam Gray, and toured with him as part of a husband and wife act on the T.O.B.A.
Theater Owners Bookers Association
Theater Owners Booking Association, or T.O.B.A., was the vaudeville circuit for African American performers in the 1920s and 1930s. The theaters all had white owners and collaborated in booking jazz, blues, comedians, and other performers for black audiences...
circuit, billed as Liston and Liston. The billing was unusual, but because Liston was better known than Gray, he took her surname. In January 1924 they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
together. However, by 1925 they had divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d. Liston met Clarence Williams in the early part of the 1920s, and he first recorded with her on Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
in September 1923. Thirty six tracks were released in Liston's name up to 1926, on both Okeh and Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
. The most noteworthy of those releases were those recorded by Liston and Williams' Blue Five, who in those days included Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
and Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
in their number.
By 1927 Liston had made her final recording session. In conjunction with the Clarence Williams Washboard Band, she recorded "Cushion Foot Stomp," and "P.D.Q. Blues". Her song, "You Don't Know My Mind Blues," was credited to the songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
team of Gray, Liston and Williams. Several of her songs contained sexual innuendo. In 1926, in a song that she wrote herself, Liston opined her "Rolls Royce Papa" had a "bent piston rod."
In 1929 Liston remarried and announced her retirement from show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
. She duly relocated to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and worked for her local church.
She died, from causes unknown, in June 1932 in St. Louis. All her recordings have been made available by Document Records
Document Records
Document Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945...
(see below).
Discography
- Virginia Liston, Vol. 1: 1923-1924 (2000) - DocumentDocument RecordsDocument Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945...
- Virginia Liston, Vol. 2: 1924-1926 / Lavinia Turner (2000) - Document