Edna Alexander (composer) explained

Edna Alexander
Birth Name:	Edna Belle Alexander
Birth Date:	19 March 1892
Birth Place:	Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Other Names:	Alex Belledna

Edna Belle Alexander (1892–1972) was an American soprano singer and music composer. In addition to performing, she became a songwriter and published music under the name Alex Belledna.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Alexander was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on March 19, 1892^{[3] [4]} to parents Mary Ann (née Hamilton) (1868–1916) and Price Alexander.^{[5] [6]} Edna had eight siblings, including four sisters and four brothers, named James Leonard, Archie A., Mary Colleen Jones, Harriet Louise, Leland Russell, Harold Creighton, Ida Helen, and Doris Elaine.^{[7] [8]} Her brother, Archie Alexander, later became governor of the Virgin Islands.^[9] She attended North Des Moines High School, graduating in 1911.^{[10] [11]}

While living in Des Moines, Iowa, she was a member of the Des Moines Negro Lyceum and sang at various local events.^{[12] [13] [14]} In November 1911, she married William Beach at her parents' home in Highland Park, Iowa.^{[15] [10]} Two years later, she filed for divorce from William on the grounds of "cruel and inhumane treatment, and adultery".^[16]

Alexander later married fellow musician and songwriter Maceo Pinkard in 1917.^[5] She used the pseudonym Alex Belledna for songwriting credit work, including on pieces she composed together with her husband.^{[17] [18]} Under the name "Alex Belledna", she composed the song "It's Right Here for You (If You Don't Get It—Tain't No Fault of Mine)", which was included on the 1920 record Crazy Blues, recorded by Okeh Records and sung by Mamie Smith. A rarity for the early 1900s, the song was created by a team of black women, as Alexander co-wrote the song with lyricist Marion Dickerson.^[18]

Alexander and her husband collaborated on the 1929 musical novelty show Pansy which had an unfavorable reception upon its debut and quickly closed, despite a well received song performed by Bessie Smith.^[19] The play opened on Broadway on May 14, 1929 at the Belmont Theatre and ran for three performances, closing on May 16, 1929.^{[20] [21]} Alexander and her husband also owned a music publishing company under their names.^[22]

Alexander died in 1972.^[18] Her music was later included in the musical retrospective, One Mo' Time, which ran from 1979 to 1987, and the 2002 show Blues in the Night.^{[23] [24]}

Discography

• "Sugar: That Sugar Baby O'Mine" (1926), co-wrote.^{[17] [25] [26]} Became a hit on an Ethel Waters recording.^[27]
• "Granny" (1919) - composer,^[17] recorded by numerous artists
• "It's Right Here for You" (1920) - composer;^[17] debuted in vaudeville with Sophie Tucker, recorded by Mamie Smith and others^[28]
• "Tain't Nothing But Jazz" (1921) - co-wrote with Maceo Pinkard and William Tracey^[17]
• "Make Those Naughty Eyes Behave" (1925)^[17]
• "Does My Sweetie Do—And How" (1925) - co-wrote with Sidney Holden and Maceo Pinkard^[17]
• "Kitchen Man" (1929) - co-wrote with Andy Razaf, recorded by Bessie Smith^[17]
• "Squealin' Pig Blues"^[29]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alexander, Edna - Discography of American Historical Recordings. adp.library.ucsb.edu.
2. News: Humanities . National Endowment for the . Personals . 18 February 2022 . The Bystander . 15 August 1919 . 3.
3. Book: ASCAP biographical dictionary . 1980 . R.R. Bowker Co. . 978-0-8352-1283-0 . 397 . 17 February 2022.
4. Web site: Iowa, U.S., Births (series) 1880-1904, 1921-1944 and Delayed Births (series), 1856-1940 . www.ancestry.com . 18 February 2022.
5. Web site: Edna Alexander . www.ancestry.com . Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 . 17 February 2022.
6. News: Personals . 18 February 2022 . The Bystander . 15 August 1919 . 3.
7. News: Obituary . 18 February 2022 . The Bystander . 30 June 1916 . 1.
8. News: Women is Buried From Her Church . 18 February 2022 . Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier . 4 July 1916 . 7.
9. Web site: Major. Gerri. June 30, 1955. Society world. Jet. Google Books.
10. News: One Leading Character In "The Girls of 1912" . 18 February 2022 . The Des Moines Register . 28 November 1911 . 2.
11. News: Fifty-nine of the Members of the Graduating Class of the North Des Moines High School . 18 February 2022 . The Des Moines Register . 18 June 1911 . 6.
12. News: Afro-American Happenings . 20 February 2022 . The Des Moines Register . 24 January 1909 . 19.
13. News: City News . 20 February 2022 . The Bystander . 15 April 1910 . 1.
14. News: Afro-American Notes . 20 February 2022 . The Des Moines Register . 10 November 1912 . 15.
15. News: Alexander-Beach Nupitals . 18 February 2022 . The Bystander . 8 December 1911 . 1.
16. News: Original Notice . 18 February 2022 . The Bystander . 21 February 1913 . 4.
17. Book: Jasen . David A. . Jones . Gene (Gordon Gene) . Spreadin' rhythm around: Black popular songwriters, 1880-1930 . 1998 . Schirmer Books; Prentice Hall International . 978-0-02-864742-5 . 17 February 2022 . 185–187.
18. Book: Leininger-Miller . Theresa . Albert Alexander Smith (1896-1940) . 2021 . 8 . 18 February 2022 . en . Issuu.com.
19. News: New Plays Loom. The Cincinnati Enquirer. 26 May 1929. 79.
20. Book: The Black New Yorkers . 2000 . John Wiley . 978-0-471-29714-7 . 205 . 18 February 2022.
21. Book: Norton . Richard C. . A chronology of American musical theater . 2002 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-508888-5 . 576 . 18 February 2022.
22. News: Stardust Beat . 19 February 2022 . The New York Age . 6 October 1956 . 21.
23. Book: Peterson . Bernard L. . A century of musicals in black and white : an encyclopedia of musical stage works by, about, or involving African Americans . 1993 . Greenwood Press . 978-0-313-26657-7 . 259 .
24. Web site: Edna Belle Alexander – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB. www.ibdb.com.
25. April 28, 1945. 'Candy' infringes on 'Sugar Baby,' Pinkard suit says. Billboard. Google Books.
26. Book: Pinkard. Maceo. Sugar : That Sugar Baby O'Mine. Alexander. Edna. Mitchell. 1944. Robbins Music Corporation. en.
27. Book: Paymer. Marvin E.. Post. Don E.. August 6, 1999. Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Popular Songs, 1920-1945. Noble House Publishers. 121. 9781881907091. Google Books.
28. Book: Jasen . David A. . A century of American popular music : 2000 best-loved and remembered songs (1899-1999) . 2002 . Routledge . 978-0-415-93700-9 . 105 . 18 February 2022.
29. Web site: Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series. Library of Congress Copyright. Office. August 6, 1947. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.. Google Books.