Aletha Dickerson
Paramount music executive
Today the pretty weird story how the secretary of music executive J. Mayo Williams got thrown in the job of her former boss when he decided to quit and work for the competitor. Aletha Dickerson never had the ambition but she had to find out that now, she was in charge.
She did the job well though, and helped Paramount survive for a few years - the "Race Music" department that she managed, was the only profitable part of the label. Not realizing how bad the Depression had hit the economy, she declined when Paramount had to cut back on her salary, and quit. With no manager for their only profitable department, and record sales plummeting due to the grim economic circumstances, Paramount soon ceased operations.
Playlist
- Dobby Bragg (Roosevelt Sykes) - Fire Detective Blues
- Blind Lemon Jefferson - Mosquito Moan
- Ishman Bracey - Suitcase Full Of Blues
- Papa Charlie Jackson - Hot Papa Blues
- Jack O'Diamonds - The Ducks Yas Yas
- Cow Cow Davenport - Slow Drag
- Hokum Boys - Selling That Stuff
- Hokum Boys - Pat-A-Foot Blues
- Elzadie Robinson - My Pullman Porter Man
- Freezone - Indian Squaw Blues
- Blind Lemon Jefferson - Oil Well Blues
- Washboard Walter & John Byrd - Wasn't It Sad About Lemon
- Ma Rainey - Sweet, Rough Man
- Ida Cox - I'm So Glad
- Mary Johnson - Mean Black Man Blues
- Blind Blake ft. Irene 'Chocolate Brown' Scruggs - Stingaree man blues
Outtro:
- Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
- Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
- Count Basie - Parnassie Stomp
- Eddie Chamblee - Lazy Mood
- Julian Dash - Creamin' Boogie
- Lloyd Glenn - Chica Boo
- Sonny Thompson- Backyard Affair