Memphis Minnie

Lizzie Douglas, better known as Memphis Minnie, hailed from Algiers, Louisiana, before making her mark in Memphis, Tennessee, and later Chicago. A true trailblazer, she wasn't just a woman who played guitar; she played it with a ferocity and skill that often overshadowed her male contemporaries, proving that the blues wasn't just a man's world.

Minnie recorded over 200 songs during her career, including classics like "Bumble Bee" and "When the Levee Breaks" (yes, that "When the Levee Breaks"). Her distinctive finger-picking style and often bawdy, always insightful lyrics left an indelible mark on the genre, influencing generations of musicians from Muddy Waters to Led Zeppelin. Apparently, good blues transcends mere gender.

Despite her immense talent and enduring legacy, Minnie, like many blues artists of her era, died in relative obscurity and poverty. One can only imagine the record deals she didn't get, or the royalties that evaporated into thin air. A shame, really, considering the amount of kvell-worthiness she generated for the world, if not her own bank account.

As for her Jewish bona fides, there’s not a single shred of evidence to suggest she was anything but a celebrated blueswoman. Perhaps her raw talent and undeniable impact were Jewish enough for some, but for us, not so much. She was too busy making history to concern herself with our trivial categories.