Blues singer Eva Taylor broke new ground as an African American vocalist during the early part of the 20th century. She was among the first whose talent was broadcast on radio programs of the day, and she held down her own program in the '20s for NBC. She began recording around 1922, first for Black Swan and eventually for other labels that included Columbia, Okeh, and Bluebird. Her work spanned popular music and jazz in addition to her blues work.
The Dixie Nightingale, as she was christened by Black Swan, was born in St. Louis, MO, in 1895 and began touring in revues befor...