Let's Talk: GMG Tribute of Arizona Dranes

•Arizona Dranes Born somewhere between 1889 to 1905, no specific record of her birthdate, however she was born in Greenville, Texas to Melton & Millie Dranes.  She was born blind and as a young girl she attended the Institute for Deaf, Dumb and Blind Colored Youths of the State of Texas.  It was in school where Blind children were typically taught trades as that was thought to be the only means of making a living for disabled people.  •Arizona began learning classical singing and piano and as attitudes began to change about the blind, early reformers raised money for the school by providing public exhibitions of blind students, demonstration they were competent and intellectual.  Arizona helped set her course by the curriculum which included an emphasis on music. •Arizona’s recording journey peaked in 1928 to which she recorded “Just Look” on the Okeh record label.  It seems Arizona was the first woman to record gospel music.  Vocally her classical training was very apparent with the “rolling ‘r’s”.  In parts of the song you can hear some of her classical cadence in her musical phrasing on the piano. •Here we and a truly unsung Gospel Music Pioneer in the woman Arizona Dranes.

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