Ann Cook

Blues and jazz singer, born St. Francisville, La., May 10, 1903, died New Orleans, La., 29 September 1962 (heart attack) Her first recordings were for Victor in New Orleans in 1927; next time she recorded - with Wooden Joe's New Orleans Band in 1949 - she had become religious and only sang gospel. "She was just one of them real outstanding barrelhouse blues singers. You know, sang with piano players. They'd cut in anywhere, they can follow you better than a whole band. Well, she'd cut off some of the bars, just things like that." (trombonist Earl Humphrey, quoted in "Deep South Piano" by Karl Gert zur Heide)