G.A. Foster, Choice – “A remarkable book in every respect. Although one can find several other books on this topic, this study stands above the rest for its...

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Monica Mays, Pacific Review of Ethnomusicology – “In her engaged style, McGee has provided a clear examination and analysis of recordings, early film and television, and other...

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Edward R. Schmidtke, Film & History – McGee's “multidisciplinary work draws on the combined assumptions of ethnography and historiography to create an integrated...

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Angela Latham author of Posing a Threat – “McGee's success in finding such a large number of all-girl bands is remarkable. Her prismatic way of presenting her findings allows...

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Kristin A. McGee is an assistant professor of popular music at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Contact the Author.

About the Book

About the Book

Women have been involved with jazz since its inception, but all too often their achievements were not as well known as those of their male counterparts.

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Short Essay

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During the first decades of the twentieth century, new forms of mass media directly impacted the cultural and racial landscape of America’s rapidly expanding cities.

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Time Line

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View a number of rarely seen videos from musicians like Bessie Smith in the 20’s, Billy Holiday in the 30’s and 40’s, up to Lena Horne in the 50’s and 60’s.

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Musician Bios

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Biography summaries of some of the most prolific jazz women from Ada Leonard and Her All-Girl Orchestra to Lil Hardin Armstrong, Peggy Lee and Valaida Snow.

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Some Liked It Hot - Jazz Women in Film and Television, 1928-1959