Arizona Dranes

about

Juanita "Arizona" Dranes (1889 or 1891–1963) was one of the first gospel artists to bring the musical styles of Holiness churches' religious music to the public in her records for Okeh and performances in the 1920s. She was also one of the first professional woman gospel singers. Her distinctive, nasal vocal style and piano playing that incorporated boogie and ragtime influenced later gospel artists. Juanita Drane (or possibly Drain) was born blind in 1889 or 1891 in Sherman, Texas. Drane attended the Texas Institute for Deaf, Dumb and Blind Colored Youth in Austin from 1896 to 1910. She learned to play piano in her early teens. Drane had been believed to be of both African-American and Mexican descent, but research by Michael Corcoran for He Is My Story: the Sanctified Soul of Arizona Dranes disproved Mexican heritage. Her correct last name is "Drane", as listed in the official enrollment record for the 1896–1897 school year at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her name was spelled "Drane" at school, though she was billed as "Dranes" later in life. Because both parents were illiterate, the surname was written down as it was pronounced. Corcoran's research found a probable cousin named "Doran," which would be pronounced "Drane" in the black southern dialect of the time. After graduating from the Texas Institute, she returned to Sherman for ten years. Around 1922, Dranes joined the Church of God in Christ Church in Wichita Falls. She soon became a favored

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albums

Arizona Dranes (1926-1929)

goodbye, babylon

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Goodbye, Babylon, Vol. 1

Goodbye, Babylon CD 01 - Introduction

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Introduction To The Blues Part One: The Ladies Of The Blues

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Goodbye, Babylon (Disc 1)

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Goodbye, Babylon CD 1 - Introduction

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He Is My Story: The Sanctified Soul of Arizona Dranes

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Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn

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The Beauty of the Blues

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The Gospel Sound

Preachin' the Gospel: Holy Blues

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