Background
Ada Scott Brown was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. Her cousin James Scott was a ragtime composer and pianist.
Ada Scott Brown was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. Her cousin James Scott was a ragtime composer and pianist.
She is best known for her recordings of "Illinois Natural Blues", "Break O" Day Blues", and "Evil Mama Blues. Her early career was spent primarily on stage in musical theater and vaudeville. She recorded with Bennie Moten in 1926.
The side "Evil Mama Blues" is possibly the earliest recording of Kansas City jazz.
Aside from her time with Moten, she did several tours alongside bandleaders such as George East. Lee. She sang with Fats Waller in the film Stormy Weather in 1943, and followed it with appearances in Harlem to Hollywood, accompanied by Harry Swannagan.
Brown was featured on two tracks of the compilation album Ladies Sing the Blues ("Break O"Day Blues" and "Evil Mama Blues"). Brown died in Kansas City of kidney disease in March 1950.
Brown was a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1936, and worked at the London Palladium and in Broadway in the late 1930s.