October 15th: Today In Music History

“A belle of the blues with a head for business and a visceral gift as a songwriter, Victoria Spivey enjoyed a long career that took her from the role of ingenue to that of queen mother” — performing with such legendary artists as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Louis Armstrong and Bob Dylan. She appeared in a film titled “King Vidor” in 1929 and founded her own record label in 1961; one of her earliest releases (“Three Kings and the Queen”) included a young Dylan on harmonica and backing vocals. Here she is singing “Organ Grinder Blues” (1928) and “Black Snake Blues” (1963).