Ma Rainey was also married twice to two men. She was with her first husband, Will Rainey, for at least 10 years before separating, according to the
New York Times. She eventually married again to a younger man, but his name is unknown and other details are scarce.
Ma Rainey openly sang about her affairs with women.
Three of Ma s hundreds of songs contain references to her bisexuality. The most famous example, Prove It on Me Blues (1928) was recorded near the end of her contract with Paramount, and contains the lyrics:
Where she went, I don t know
I mean to follow everywhere she goes;
Illustration: Courtesy of Shoga Films
Netflix’s
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman (in his last role before his death), Taylour Paige, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and more comes to Netflix on Friday, Dec. 18 and like many dramatized biopics, the much-anticipated film may incite your eagerness to learn more about the real woman behind the film.
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T’Aint Nobody’s Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s, which “breaks down the origin of the blues queens of the 1920s as well as the influence of Ma Rainey.”
The full synopsis for the doc, directed by Robert Philipson: