Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum

At the tender age of 14 years old, Columbus native Gertrude Pridgett (1886-1939) performed at a Springer Opera House talent show. Soon afterwards, she started touring with vaudeville and minstrel shows. In 1904, she met and married stage manager, William “Pa” Rainey, adopting the stage name “Ma” Rainey. She toured and recorded music throughout the 1920s. The former home of the “Mother of the Blues” is now a landmark museum and testament to Ma Rainey’s revolutionary vocal performances that incorporated blues, jazz, and her personal style.