Gladys Bentley (12 August 1907-18 January 1960) was a famous butch lesbian … Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Bentley (12 August 1907-18 January 1960) was a famous butch lesbian African-American blues singer during the Harlem Renaissance.
Bentley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of American George L. Bentley and his wife, a Trinidadian, Mary Mote. She appeared at Harry Hansberry's "Clam House" on 133rd Street, one of New York City's most notorious gay speakeasies, in the 1920s, and headlined in the early thirties at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up by a chorus line of drag queens. She was a 250 pound bulldyke dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tuxedo and top hat), who played a mean piano and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep, growling voice while flirting outrageously with women in the audience.
On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies with the repeal of Prohibition, she relocated to southern California, where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player", and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". She was frequently harassed for wearing men's clothing. She claimed that she had married a white woman in Atlantic City.
Fictional characters based on Bentley appeared in Carl Van Vechten's Parties, Clement Woods's Deep River, and Blair Niles's Strange Brother. She recorded for the OKeh, Victor, Excelsior, and Flame labels.
During the McCarthy Era, she started wearing dresses, married a man (who denied that they ever married), and studied to be a minister, claiming to have been "cured" by taking female hormones. More likely, Bentley saw how viscous that McCarthy's "witch hunt" against homosexuals was and thus had to rewrite her act (particularly since she had an aging mother to care for). She died, aged 52, from pneumonia.
Bentley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of American George L. Bentley and his wife, a Trinidadian, Mary Mote. She appeared at Harry Hansberry's "Clam House" on 133rd Street, one of New York City's most notorious gay speakeasies, in the 1920s, and headlined in the early thirties at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up by a chorus line of drag queens. She was a 250 pound bulldyke dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tuxedo and top hat), who played a mean piano and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep, growling voice while flirting outrageously with women in the audience.
On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies with the repeal of Prohibition, she relocated to southern California, where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player", and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". She was frequently harassed for wearing men's clothing. She claimed that she had married a white woman in Atlantic City.
Fictional characters based on Bentley appeared in Carl Van Vechten's Parties, Clement Woods's Deep River, and Blair Niles's Strange Brother. She recorded for the OKeh, Victor, Excelsior, and Flame labels.
During the McCarthy Era, she started wearing dresses, married a man (who denied that they ever married), and studied to be a minister, claiming to have been "cured" by taking female hormones. More likely, Bentley saw how viscous that McCarthy's "witch hunt" against homosexuals was and thus had to rewrite her act (particularly since she had an aging mother to care for). She died, aged 52, from pneumonia.
Worried Blues
Gladys Bentley Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Worried Blues' by these artists:
Bob Dylan I got those worried blues And I got those worried blues I…
Doc Merle Watson I got those worried blues And I got those worried blues I…
Doc & Merle Watson I got those worried blues And I got those worried blues I…
Doc Watson I got those worried blues And I got those worried blues I…
Frank Hutchison I′ve got the worried blues, got no heart to cry I've…
Lightnin' Hopkins Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord It hurts me so bad…
Muddy Waters - Buddy Guy - Howlin' Wolf - Sonny Boy Williamson - Willie Dixon Well now, I give you my money Babe, 'n you left…
Sonny Boy Williamson Well now, I give you my money Babe, 'n you left…
Sonny Boy Williamson & Willie Love Well now, I give you my money Babe, 'n you left…
Yank Rachell The worried blues, mama, they sure do make me feel…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@momatomic
Wow can she scat out a trumpet- best I ever heard! You have to admire that she was true to her own self expression, and that turned out to be a great thing for her many faceted audiences as well. Pretty cool!
@timdufelmeier7086
https://youtu.be/HeYSOydYfG4
@timdufelmeier7086
Great pianist toohttps://youtu.be/ptIBk2PZK74
@moniquethomas3610
One of her best. This was recorded right in New York during the great Harlem Renaissance, in 1928. She's only twenty-one. Fabulous.
@djkweensupreme
An Amazing Woman right here🎉! She broke all the rules! She was unapologetic, She dressed the way she.felt like dressing and loved ❤ whoever she wanted too!
@chibipoko4549
one of my top 5 favorite historical lesbians :))))
@callenstewart
I just learned about her today! WOW!
@ShadSamD
what are the others??
@obsi777
She is not a lesbian, she dressed like that at the time she sang I don't remember what it was but I think it wasn't supposed to be xd
@graceconover9070
@@obsi777 no she is a lesbian