00:10 Minor introduces Sadie and Ida. She mentions their move from Pensacola Florida when they were young and that Sadie is the wife of Kid Sheik Cola. 00:40 White introduces them as the last of the old style piano players and blues singers. He mentions their style being like that of Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and the classic blues singers of the 1920’s. Their names are both mentioned in books on New Orleans Jazz history as they played with many of the musical legends. 00:37 Sadie talks about being from Florida and leaving at the age of 16. She played for Buddy Petit’s band and he asked her to come to New Orleans.. Ida was the baby of the family and Sadie married her sister Billie and De De Pierce off when they came to the city. 06:31 She describes enjoying playing piano at a boarding house when she was very young and how she now plays for several churches. Sadie describes how she first started playing music. She would listen to her mother’s gramophone records, hum the tune back and pick out the music on the piano. She talks about always having an ear for music when her other sister did not. 09:15 She talks about playing for an undertaker in Pensacola who would book New Orleans bands to play there. He mother had died and so when Buster Douglas in the band suggested she move to New Orleans she packed her things and left. She describes playing there and all over the world until she moved to New York to get music and nurse training. 10:36 Ida talks about the early days of her career with ‘Mack and his Merrymakers’ from New Orleans and then ‘Wallace ‘the Cat’ Mercy’ (?) in The Maker nightclub. She describes getting many jobs between New Orleans and Florida and forging a respectable career in the early days. 12:46 They discuss Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey and their influences on the girls. They both saw Bessie perform and Sadie describes how she had the opportunity to perform with her in Pensacola, Florida at the Belmont Theater after her pianist became sick. 17:07 White mentions how they still play religious music and plays an excerpt of ‘Nearer My God to Thee’. Sadie joins in on the vocals briefly. Ida mentions the qualities of their voices. 19:20 They talk about the last time the women played in New Orleans. They last played in 1984 at the New Orleans world’s fair. Ida describes how she would come and visit her sisters but as she was the youngest, she preferred to stay at home in Florida. 19:38 Demonstration – Ida plays piano and sings ‘Ida’s Blues’. 26:36 - Sadie plays piano and sings ‘Sadie’s Blues’. 31:18 Dr. White introduces an audience member, John Randolph who remembers the women and their sisters Billy Pierce from the 1920’s. 32:16 Sadie talks about her seven sisters and which were musical. She talks about Sadie, Billie and Edna and how Billie and De De Pierce fell in love. 34:25 She talks about coming to New Orleans first and playing with Kid Howard and Buddy Petit. She describes Petit’s style and credits him with bringing her to New Orleans. 35:35 She tells White about her band that played on the Steamboat Madison that went across Lake Pontchartrain. She did this for nine years until the boat was sold and she went to New York to study music and nursing. 37:00 Sadie talks about playing with Kid Sheik and his current medical condition. 37:21 Ida talks about how her early years were spent working at church rather than touring. She describes hiding her jazz playing from her father. -Ida sings a spiritual and ‘jazzes’ it up. 39:35 She mentions recording her church music in Pensacola as well as her jazz with ‘Wallace ‘the Cat’ Mercy’(?). She agrees that there is not a lot of her music available now; unlike Sadie’s. 40:19 Sadie tells White about moving from Detroit where she lived with her former husband. She tells the story of how she met Kid Sheik again after many years and got they got together. 41:15 Sadie talks about her many recordings. White plays ‘St. Louis Blues’ from one of her recordings. Sadie sings along. 44:45 Ida thanks the audience and invites them to visit her in Florida. Sadie thanks the audience and refers to the films she is in. 46:37 End
