She is a mystery in so many ways. While it is known that she lived in St. Louis and most likely in the vicinity of, what was routinely called "Dago Hill" - well into my teens, it is not known where she came from. Some say Texas, others say that she was born and raised in St. Louis until she made a splash in the entertainment industry with "Dago Hill Blues," "Black Snake Wiggle," and Carrier Pigeon Blues."
These songs were big enough to get her photos on the album sleeves and marquee posters, as well as recording sessions in Chicago and New York City accompanied by the likes of fiddler, Lonnie Johnson and Charlie Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs.
Have a listen to her moaning those Dago Hill Blues here.
The term "Dago" is said to come from the what English sailors called their Spanish co-workers. They referred to them as "Diego." Diego, aka James is the Patron Saint of Spain. But the Brits had a hard time (or didn't care) telling the difference between Spanish and Portuguese sailors, so it gradually applied to both nationalities. After some time, it then became a common phrase on English and American vessels to refer to any "European" of swarthy complexion as this...and eventually became pronounced "Dago." Then because of the large wave of Italian immigrants in the U.S.A., the term eventually came to be used almost specifically with this ethnicity. Although it is still used in Europe to refer to Portuguese and Spanish.
So there you have it...
Nice bit of history.
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