Gaye Adegbalola

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Gaye Adegbalola

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Gaye Todd
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1944|3|21
Died =
Origin = Fredericksburg, Virginia
Instrument = Vocals, guitar
Voice_type =
Genre = Blues
Occupation = Singer and guitarist
Years_active = 1984-present
Label = Alligator
Associated_acts = Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
URL = [http://www.adegbalola.com/ www.adegbalola.com]
Notable_instruments =

Gaye Adegbalola is a blues singer and guitarist, teacher, lecturer, activist, and photographer. She was born Gaye Todd in Fredericksburg, Virginia on March 21, 1944. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=37581 Gaye Adegbalola] , All Media Guide (2007). Retrieved on August 2, 2008.]

Gaye's father, Clarence R. Todd, was the first Black school board member in Fredericksburg and was also a jazz musician. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=37581 Gaye Adegbalola] , All Media Guide (2007). Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] He later founded a performing arts group for black youth called "Souls of Shade", today known as Harambee 360.Johnson, Virginia. [http://www.historypoint.org/af_am_people_places.asp African American History in the Rappahannock Region] , [http://www.historypoint.org HistoryPoint.org] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] Her mother, Gladys P. Todd, was one of the first organizers of the local civil rights movement in Fredericksburg, and also brought old jazz records home from her job at the Youth Canteen to give to the young Gaye.Johnson, Virginia. [http://www.historypoint.org/af_am_people_places.asp African American History in the Rappahannock Region] , [http://www.historypoint.org HistoryPoint.org] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] Both parents were major influences on her music and social identity.

Gaye's surname, Adegbalola, was given to her by a Yoruba priest she met in 1968.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/article22.html Article #22: What's The Difference Between Being Black And Being Gay???? ... When You're Black You Don't Have To Tell Your Mother] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] (Spring 2004). Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] Meaning "I am reclaiming my royalty," Adegbalola uses the name to signify her pride in her black heritage. Lehoczky, Etelka. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2000_Feb_15/ai_59410461 Gaye Ol' Time - blues singers Gaye Adegbalola] , The Advocate (February 15, 2000). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/article22.html Article #22: What's The Difference Between Being Black And Being Gay???? ... When You're Black You Don't Have To Tell Your Mother] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] (Spring 2004). Retrieved on August 2, 2008.]

Gaye Todd graduated from high school as valedictorian in 1961, having already participated in numerous sit-in protests and picket lines as a member of the civil rights movement.Miller, Dan. [http://www.washblade.com/advertising/eTearsheets/05-28-2004/067.pdf Nothing but the blues] , Washington Blade (May 28, 2004). Retrieved August 1, 2008.] She later attended Boston University, graduating with a B.A. in Biology.Miller, Dan. [http://www.washblade.com/advertising/eTearsheets/05-28-2004/067.pdf Nothing but the blues] , Washington Blade (May 28, 2004). Retrieved August 1, 2008.] Gaye's occupations after college included those of a technical writer for TRW systems, a biochemical researcher at Rockefeller University, and a bacteriologist at Harlem Hospital, where she was also the local union representative.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] These were all in sharp contrast to her first job as a teenager, working in a laundry for forty-five cents an hour.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.]

From the years 1966 to 1970 she was involved in the Black Power Movement in New York and organized the Harlem Committee on Self-Defense.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] During this same period she met and married her husband. Her son, Juno Lumumba Kahlil was born in 1969, and would later make his own mark in the goth/industrial music world.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.]

In 1970, after divorcing her husband, Gaye Adegbalola returned to Fredericksburg, where she taught science, gifted and talented, and creative thinking courses in the local schools.Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] She helped her father direct the Harambee Theatre, sometimes acting in performances herself, until her father's death in 1977.Johnson, Virginia. [http://www.historypoint.org/af_am_people_places.asp African American History in the Rappahannock Region] , [http://www.historypoint.org HistoryPoint.org] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] Having played the flute in her high school band, she began studying guitar in 1977.Adegbalola, Gaye; Faye, Andra; Rabson, Ann. Conan, Neal. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5366666 "Saffire, Uppity Blues Women"] , NPR: Talk of the Nation (April 27, 2006). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] In 1978 she received her Master of Education in Educational Media from Virginia State University,Adegbalola, Gaye. [http://www.adegbalola.com/bio.html Bio] , [http://www.adegbalola.com Adegbalola.com] . Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] and in 1982 was honored as Virginia's Teacher of the Year. [ [http://www.ccsso.org/projects/national_teacher_of_the_year/State_Teachers/1982/ 1982 State Teachers of the Year] , Council of Chief State School Officers (June 26, 2008). Retrieved on August 2, 2008.] She spent much of the rest of the eighties conducting teachers' workshops on motivational and teaching techniques.

Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women was first formed as a duo in 1984 by Ms. Adegbalola and her guitar teacher, Ann Rabson, with third member Andra Faye joining later to form a trio.Adegbalola, Gaye; Faye, Andra; Rabson, Ann. Conan, Neal. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5366666 "Saffire, Uppity Blues Women"] , NPR: Talk of the Nation (April 27, 2006). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] Saffire recorded their first album on their own label in 1987, "Middle Age Blues", with songs including "They Call Me Miss Thang," and "Middle Age Blues Boogie." The following year Gaye Adegbalola became a full-time blues performer and in 1990 the band recorded its first album for Alligator Records, with Gaye winning the "Song of the Year" W.C. Handy Award for "Middle Age Blues Boogie."Adegbalola, Gaye; Faye, Andra; Rabson, Ann. Conan, Neal. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5366666 "Saffire, Uppity Blues Women"] , NPR: Talk of the Nation (April 27, 2006). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] In 1991, she met her life partner, Suzanne Moe. Miller, Dan. [http://www.washblade.com/advertising/eTearsheets/05-28-2004/067.pdf Nothing but the blues] , Washington Blade (May 28, 2004). Retrieved August 1, 2008.]

During the 1990s Gaye Adegbalola held workshops on various aspects of blues music and worked as a blues music reporter for the World Cafe program on National Public Radio. She also won a battle against cancer. In 1998 she co-founded the Steering Committee of the Blues Music Association. Her first solo album, "Bitter Sweet Blues", was recorded in 1999. In addition to her own original compositions ("You Don't Have to Take It (Like I Did)"; "Big Ovaries, Baby"; and "Nothing's Changed") the album featured covers of songs by Bessie Smith, Smokey Robinson, Ma Rainey, and Nina Simone. In 2000, in a short piece on her work and career in "The Advocate", Adegbalola came out as a lesbian. Lehoczky, Etelka. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2000_Feb_15/ai_59410461 Gaye Ol' Time - blues singers Gaye Adegbalola] , The Advocate (February 15, 2000). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.]

Adegbalola's song "Middle Aged Blues Boogie" was named Best Song of the Year at the 1990 W. C. Handy Awards (now the Blues Music Awards). Adegbalola was nominated for two Outmusic awards in 2005. Shapiro, Gregg. [http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/cms-this_issue/200603--The+Gaye+Blues.html?PHPSESSID=fbb8b6e6b70c3fedea46 The Gaye Blues : Out blues singer Gaye Adegbalola releases a new compilation] , OutSmart (March 2006). Retrieved on August 1, 2008.] Adegbalola's song "Big Ovaries, Baby" is featured in episode 23 of The War On Democracy! podcast.

References

External links

* [http://www.adegbalola.com Gaye Adegbalola's Official Website]
* [http://www.uppityblueswomen.com Official Site of SAFFIRE THE UPPITY BLUES WOMEN]