Esmereldy

Born: June 1, 1913 - Died: March 29, 1997. Born in rural Tennessee but raised in Memphis, where she began her radio career at age eight. Moved to New York in the late 1930s, began performing with Elton Britt, Judy Canova and other transplanted country artists at spots like the Village Barn. Landed her own radio program on NBC, working as a country disc jockey. In 1941, she was among the first country artists to make a soundie, a short film used to promote her recordings. Esmereldy is best remembered for her late-1940s "authentic hillbilly" recordings. Many of her songs were comic novelties, including her biggest hit, "Slap 'Er Down Ag'in, Paw." By the early 1950s she was back in Memphis, hosting the Tennessee Jamboree syndicated country show and working as a country deejay.