Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women is a three-woman blues musical group in the Washington, D.C. area. It was founded in 1987 by Ann Rabson, Gaye Adegbalola and Earlene Lewis. Lewis separated from the band in 1992 and was replaced by Andra Faye. The group currently features Rabson on piano, vocals and guitar, Adegbalola on vocals and guitar, and Faye on vocals, bass, mandolin, violin and guitar.
Saffire's music is a combination of serious blues songs and comedic novelty songs. They play original songs, and well as the music of blues women who have inspired them, such as Big Mama Thornton, Ida Cox and Koko Taylor. Their music, both comedic and serious, tends to deal with feminist themes, which has made them very popular outside of traditional blues circles.
They were the first acoustic band to be signed by Alligator Records. Their albums are Uppity Blues Women (1990), Hot Flash (1991), Broadcasting (1992), Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (1994), Cleaning House (1996), Live & Uppity (1998), Ain't Gonna Hush (2001), and their greatest hits album Deluxe Edition (2006).
Their song "Middle Aged Blues Boogie," written by Adegbalola, was named best original song at the W. C. Handy Awards (now the Blues Music Awards) in 1990.
Saffire has shared the stage with music icons such as B. B. King, Ray Charles, Willie Dixon and Koko Taylor.
