Marva Wright - Blues Queen of New Orleans

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2004
Time:61:26 
Size:143,8 MB 
Label:Mardi Gras Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Full 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Bluesiana Mama - 4:20
 2. Members Only - 4:17
 3. Ghetto Woman - 6:56
 4. Fell Like Breakin up Somebody`s Home - 3:49
 5. I will Survive - 6:38
 6. Built For Comfort - 3:57
 7. At Last - 4:59
 8. Shake a Hand - 3:52
 9. Driving Wheel - 3:48
10. I`ll Take you There - 3:42
11. Heartbreakin`n Woman - 2:38
12. Mr. Big Stuff - 3:54
13. Wang Dang Doodle - 5:10
14. No Drawers - 3:19

Marva Wright, the powerhouse New Orleans blues and gospel belter who left her job as a school secretary to sing around the world was enormously popular among fellow musicians in The Big Easy. Ms. Wright was an impressive live performer who moved easily between gospel spirituals and bawdy blues romps. In her late-blooming career, she released albums on local and international record labels, and performed across Europe, in Russia and Brazil, and at blues festivals around the United States. She drew large crowds at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell, and staged an annual Christmas concert at Tipitina’s. Ms. Wright grew up in Carrollton. As a child, she listened to her mother sing and play piano at Greater St. Stephen Baptist Church on South Liberty Street. Her mother had attended McDonogh 24 Elementary School with future gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, and they remained friends. Ms. Wright graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, then left Southern University in Baton Rouge after two years to marry her first husband. While raising her children, she confined her singing to home and church. As her children grew up, she worked as a secretary at Eleanor McMain Secondary School. Encouraged to pursue singing as a profession, she wrestled with the notion of performing sacred gospel music in secular clubs. She consulted childhood friend and fellow gospel singer Jo “Cool” Davis, who urged her to make the leap. She nurtured her early career in such Bourbon Street clubs as the Old Absinthe Bar. “I love Bourbon Street,” she said in 2008. “If it wasn’t for Bourbon Street, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. You meet a lot of people from all over the world.” In 1990, while singing at Bourbon Street Gospel and Blues, she met “60 Minutes” correspondent Ed Bradley. He became an ardent fan; up until his death, Bradley introduced Ms. Wright for her Jazz Fest performances. She released her debut album, “Heartbreakin’ Woman,” in 1990 on Tipitina’s Records. A French label issued 1993’s “Born With the Blues.” She covered a U2 song as the title track of 1995’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Her tenth album, 2001’s “Marva,” was a typically eclectic affair, featuring such guests as Bo Dollis and Terrance Simien. She covered Bob Dylan’s “Serve Somebody” and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” In the 1990s, her audience at the Uptown club Muddy Waters occasionally included a daughter of then-Vice President Al Gore.
Marva's CD, The Blues Queen of New Orleans was released during Jazz Fest 2004! Marva Fans have been asking for these songs to be recorded for a long time. Thanks to Warren Hildebrand and Mardi Gras Records the time has come.

Blues Queen of New Orleans