Song:Married Man Blues
Album:The Music of New Orleans Vol. 3: Music of the Dance Halls
Singer and pianist Billie Pierce was best known for performing in New Orleans dance halls with her cornet playing husband Joseph "De De" Pierce. A 1958 appearance on this Smithsonian Folkways field recording led to a record deal and touring with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band in the 60s. Billie was born Wilhelmina Goodson June 8, 1907 in Marianna, FL. Billie was a childhood nickname. Her parents and her five sisters all played piano. Her father was deacon at the local baptist church. They all played piano and sang in church. The girls weren't allowed to play secular music. Of course Billie would sneak out of the house and see Bessie Smith perform. One time Bessie's pianist Clarence Williams suffered a heart attack and Billie stepped in and backed up Bessie for two weeks. Billie then played with Ida Cox and played Florida clubs. She moved to New Orleans in 1930 and worked with several bands until she net De De Pierce in 1933. He was born Feb. 18, 1904 in New Orleans. He was in the house band at Luthjens Dance Hall when he met Billie. They married on Mar. 28, 1935. They played that same dance hall for 24 years. Smithsonian Folkways recorded blues, jazz and folk music in the field. Billie & De De recorded three songs in 1954 at New Orleans clubs. The album was released in 1958. By the time the album was released, DeDe was suffering from glaucoma and Billie had suffered a stroke. So they were looking to retire. Instead Riverside Records signed them and eventually they toured with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band through the 60s. On the original album the Billie Pierce song Married Man Blues was mislabeled as the blues standard Married Woman Blues. This has been corrected and the album is available as a digital download. De De Pierce retired due to failing health and died in Nov. 1973 at age 69. Billie Pierce died on Sept. 29, 1974 at age 67. Here's a video for Married Man Blues by Billie & De De Pierce.
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