I've been writing about blues music for about 13 years. After doing some research on the "classic blues women" of the 1920s, including Bessie Smith and Ida Cox, I learned in 2013 that blues pioneer Mamie Smith has been buried in unmarked ground at Frederick Douglass since her death in 1946.

I have been raising money on Indiegogo to buy her a headstone. We're almost there, but need about $2000 more to make the remaining payment when the stone is completed Please go to: http://igg.me/at/mamie3

Also to raise funds, we are holding an all-blues concert at Killmeyer's on Staten Island on July 20. Please go here for discount tickets, and for more information: http://mamie.bpt.me

I've been writing about blues music for about 13 years. After doing some research on the "classic blues women" of the 1920s, including Bessie Smith and Ida Cox, I learned in 2013 that blues pioneer Mamie Smith has been buried in unmarked ground at Frederick Douglass since her death in 1946.

I have been raising money on Indiegogo to buy her a headstone. We're almost there, but need about $2000 more to make the remaining payment when the stone is completed Please go to: http://igg.me/at/mamie3

Also to raise funds, we are holding an all-blues concert at Killmeyer's on Staten Island on July 20. Please go here for discount tickets, and for more information: http://mamie.bpt.me