Issie Ringgold

Ringgold was born in Philadelphia,^[1] the daughter of William A. Ringgold and Ella Chase Ringgold.^[2] Her father worked for the Atlantic City Highway Department.^[3] Her sisters Charlotte Ringgold and Muriel Ringgold were also entertainers.^[4][5]

Ringgold was dancing and singing in Chicago by 1911,^[6] and on the New York stage by 1913.^[7] She appeared in a 1917 act with Jesse A. Shipp, called "Down Home Ten".^[8] She was in a musical comedy in 1925, Moochin' Along, written by Jesse A. Shipp, Cecil Mack, and James Johnson.^[9]

In 1926, she joined the cast of "Rarin' to Go",^[10] and the act "Izzy Ringgold and the Dancing Maids" was part of the Connie's Inn Revue.^[1] It was labeled "the most indecent show ever shown in Harlem", and police tried to monitor the show.^[11] She headed "Flashes of 1928" in Washington, D.C. in 1928.^[12] She starred in another revue, "Sunflower South", in 1929, singing "That's My Weakness", "My Mother's Eyes", and "He's Funny That Way",^[13] and toured with her sisters Charlotte and Muriel, and a large cast of other vaudeville performers.^[14]

Ringgold toured on burlesque programs in the 1930s, billed as "the Female Furore".^[15] She sang suggestive songs, with titles including "My Handy Man" and "He's a Good Meat Cutter".^[16][17] In 1930 she was in The Joy Boat, a touring revue with Moms Mabley, Jimmie Baskett, Dusty Fletcher, Johnny Hudgins, and others.^[18] In 1939 she headlined "Lucky Sambo's Harlem Revue", a touring production with 70 performers.^[19][20] She continued performing into the 1940s.^[21]

Ringgold made two recordings for the Columbia Records label in 1930, "He's a Good Meat Cutter" and "Be On Your Merry Way". Those recordings have been anthologized several times, including on Blue Ladies Vol. 2 (1968), Big Mamas (1982), The Blues 1923 to 1933 (1987, BBC Records),^[22][23] Jazz Classic Masterpieces III (1989), Female Blues Singers (1991), Blue Girls (1996), and Heartbreakers (2000).^[24]