Julia Gerity

Some artists are hesitant to record topical material out of fear of eventually being considered dated, yet watching new waves of interest as they develop actually suggests the opposite is true. From her observation post atop a dumpster, singer Julia Gerity would certainly agree. She was a popular performer and recording artist dating back in a time when the act of making a record itself was considered a novelty. Gerity sides appeared as early as 1919, that being the musical request "Why Don't You Drive My Blues Away," a typical entry from the Triangle publishing firm recorded by Gerity for the Aeolian firm simply because other acts had already achieved success with it. In the early '30s she was still being advertised as a "queen of the blues," and held down a regular headlining spot at Chicago's Vanity Fair venue. Some discographers only become aware of Gerity at this point, such as Tom Lord, who credits her with seven jazz recording sessions in 1931 and 1932. As for the CD purchasing audience of the new millennium, Gerity is remembered basically for one song, "Sittin' on a Rubbish Can," and its association with the great Depression . Interest in the often intensely biting music from this period, sometimes in relation to modern social circumstances which seem similar, has continued to keep Gerity's name on playlists. At least the Depression times were good enough for her to front her own band, promoted as both Julia Gerity and Her Boys and the slightly more exciting Julia Gerity and Her Play Boys. Another of her recordings with this outfit was a version of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" for the Victor label. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide