Born Edna Landreaux, the daughter of Victor Landreaux, Edna Hicks was an important figure in the history of recorded blues music.
She left New Orleans as a teenager, following in the footsteps of her older half-sister, Lizzie Miles, also a blues singer, and eventually made her way to New York City, New York. Hicks soon found work in musical theater, first appearing in the production "Follow Me" at the Casino Theater in New York.
After appearing in "Follow Me," she became a regular Vaudevillian performer on the Theater Owner's Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) circuit. Her performing credits included productions such as "The New American," "A Trip Around the World," and "Derby Day In Dixie."
Hicks' theatrical performances brought her to the attention of record producers who eventually offered her a recording contract in the early 1920's. During her brief recording career, she made records for the Victor, Brunswick, Gennett, Vocalion, Ajax, and Columbia labels, with the bulk of the recording taking place in New York City and Chicago.
Just as Hicks' career seemed to be taking off to new heights, she died tragically in Chicago at the age of 29. According to reports, she was on tour in Chicago and during a brief rest between performances, she suffered severe burns while trying to clean a kerosene stove with gas soaked cleaning rags.
She left New Orleans as a teenager, following in the footsteps of her older half-sister, Lizzie Miles, also a blues singer, and eventually made her way to New York City, New York. Hicks soon found work in musical theater, first appearing in the production "Follow Me" at the Casino Theater in New York.
After appearing in "Follow Me," she became a regular Vaudevillian performer on the Theater Owner's Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) circuit. Her performing credits included productions such as "The New American," "A Trip Around the World," and "Derby Day In Dixie."
Hicks' theatrical performances brought her to the attention of record producers who eventually offered her a recording contract in the early 1920's. During her brief recording career, she made records for the Victor, Brunswick, Gennett, Vocalion, Ajax, and Columbia labels, with the bulk of the recording taking place in New York City and Chicago.
Just as Hicks' career seemed to be taking off to new heights, she died tragically in Chicago at the age of 29. According to reports, she was on tour in Chicago and during a brief rest between performances, she suffered severe burns while trying to clean a kerosene stove with gas soaked cleaning rags.
Born Edna Landreaux, the daughter of Victor Landreaux, Edna Hicks was an important figure in the history of recorded blues music.
She left New Orleans as a teenager, following in the footsteps of her older half-sister, Lizzie Miles, also a blues singer, and eventually made her way to New York City, New York. Hicks soon found work in musical theater, first appearing in the production "Follow Me" at the Casino Theater in New York.
After appearing in "Follow Me," she became a regular Vaudevillian performer on the Theater Owner's Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) circuit. Her performing credits included productions such as "The New American," "A Trip Around the World," and "Derby Day In Dixie."
Hicks' theatrical performances brought her to the attention of record producers who eventually offered her a recording contract in the early 1920's. During her brief recording career, she made records for the Victor, Brunswick, Gennett, Vocalion, Ajax, and Columbia labels, with the bulk of the recording taking place in New York City and Chicago.
Just as Hicks' career seemed to be taking off to new heights, she died tragically in Chicago at the age of 29. According to reports, she was on tour in Chicago and during a brief rest between performances, she suffered severe burns while trying to clean a kerosene stove with gas soaked cleaning rags.
She left New Orleans as a teenager, following in the footsteps of her older half-sister, Lizzie Miles, also a blues singer, and eventually made her way to New York City, New York. Hicks soon found work in musical theater, first appearing in the production "Follow Me" at the Casino Theater in New York.
After appearing in "Follow Me," she became a regular Vaudevillian performer on the Theater Owner's Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) circuit. Her performing credits included productions such as "The New American," "A Trip Around the World," and "Derby Day In Dixie."
Hicks' theatrical performances brought her to the attention of record producers who eventually offered her a recording contract in the early 1920's. During her brief recording career, she made records for the Victor, Brunswick, Gennett, Vocalion, Ajax, and Columbia labels, with the bulk of the recording taking place in New York City and Chicago.
Just as Hicks' career seemed to be taking off to new heights, she died tragically in Chicago at the age of 29. According to reports, she was on tour in Chicago and during a brief rest between performances, she suffered severe burns while trying to clean a kerosene stove with gas soaked cleaning rags.
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CLASSIC BLUES SINGER
Gravesite Details
Gravestone placed by the Killer Blues Headstone project in 2023.
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