Lucille Bogan

Lucille Bogan (born 1897 in Amory, Mississippi; died 1948 in Los Angeles, California) was one of the most uncompromising vocalists of the pre-war classic blues era. Often recording under the pseudonym Bessie Jackson, she cut extensively for Okeh, Brunswick, and ARC between 1923 and 1935. Based primarily in Birmingham, Alabama, and later Chicago, Bogan's repertoire stands out for its stark, unvarnished realism. While contemporaries often relied on metaphor, Bogan sang explicitly about prostitution, alcoholism, domestic violence, and same-sex relationships. Her unexpurgated 1935 recording of "Shave 'Em Dry" remains one of the most sexually graphic tracks ever committed to wax. She favored spare, driving accompaniment (often relying solely on the rolling piano of Walter Roland) which perfectly suited her direct, booming vocal delivery.