finetune artist: Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women

This all-female blues trio was formed by Gaye Adegbalola (b. 21 March 1944, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA; guitar), Ann Rabson (b. 12 April 1945, New York, USA; piano) and Earlene Lewis (b. 31 January 1945, Avenal, California, USA; bass). Rabson grew up in Ohio, where she took up the guitar and began singing professionally at the age of 18. Moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1971, she met Gaye Adegbalola and gave her guitar lessons. As well as each performing solo, the pair began to gig together in 1984. Four years later, they gave up their jobs as computer analyst and science teacher to form Saffire with Lewis, a real estate agent who played in a bluegrass band. A demo tape sent to Bruce Iglauer resulted in their signing with Alligator Records. Their debut album was one of the label's bestsellers for 1990 and Adegbalola won a W.C. Handy Award for Song Of The Year with "Middle Aged Blues Boogie". While recording Broadcasting, Lewis left the group, to be replaced by Andra Faye McIntosh (b. Indianapolis, USA), who already played guitar, violin and mandolin and thereafter took up the double bass. While benefiting from the heightened awareness of feminism, the group manages to combine a politically correct posture with humour and musicianship. Both Rabson and Adegbalola have released excellent solo albums.

Listen to Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women at Finetune.

Middle Aged Blues Boogie
Wild Women Don't Have the Blues
Fess Up When You Mess Up
Two In the Bush Is Better Than One In the Hand
Cold Pizza and Warm Beer