Ann Rabson

Ann Rabson ( born April 12, 1945 in New York City; † January 30, 2013 in Fredericksburg, Virginia) was an American blues pianist, singer and guitarist.

Life

Even as a child she was addicted to the Blues after they had first heard a record by Big Bill Broonzy. At age 17, she received a guitar from her father and has since played as a professional musician. Playing the piano, they only started with 35 years ago, but soon reached such a level that it was included in the Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame. For recordings of Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Francine Reed, Carey Bell, Cephas and Wiggins, Johnny Shines, Levon Helm, John Jackson and Snooky Pryor, she played the piano. She has performed both solo and as a member of various bands and was 25 years a member of Saffire -The Uppity Blues Women. After the dissolution of the band in late 2009, she joined more on solo.

After a long illness Rabson died on January 30, 2013 from cancer. She is survived by her husband George Newman, her daughter and a granddaughter.

Awards

• Blues Music Award nomination Music Makin 'Mama as Album of the Year in the category Traditional Blues and Acoustic Blues, Elevator Man as Song of the Year
• Blues Music Award nomination for Traditional Blues Female eight Artist of the Year

Discography

Solo

• Music Makin ' Mama ( 1997)
• In A Family Way (2005)
• Struttin 'My Stuff ( 2005)

Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women

• Havin ' the Last Word, Alligator, AL 4927
• Saffire - Deluxe Edition, Alligator, AL 5613
• Is not Gonna Hush, Alligator, AL 4880
• Live & Uppity, Alligator, AL 4856
• Cleaning House, Alligator, AL 4840
• Old, New, Borrowed & Blue, Alligator, AL 4826
• Broadcasting, Alligator, AL 4811
• Hot flash, Alligator, AL 4796
• Middle Aged Blues, Saffire Records

Other ( selection)

• Shoulder to Shoulder, Cephas & Wiggins
• Ladies Man, Pinetop Perkins
• Takin ' A Stand, Deborah Coleman
• Ninth Annual Blues & Boogie Piano Summit (2007, Newport, Ky. )