Little Miss Cornshucks

Little Miss Cornshucks | Planet Barberella | tc404

Mildred Cummings Jordan (Little Miss Cornshucks) was born in Dayton, Ohio, on 26 May 1923. A night club singer of many years standing, she had a long season in Chicago night clubs. She was very influential, with Aretha Franklin among those naming her as an influence; and was responsible for Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun becoming interested in recording music.

“Little Miss Cornshucks” was a character of “a country girl lost in a big city” which was designed to appeal to the many men who had migrated to Chicago from the Southern States. After recording over a number of years for many labels she recorded an LP for Chess in 1960, from which a single was taken, but her act suddenly became old fashioned and she ended her live appearances in 1961.

Mildred Jordan died in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a series of strokes, on 11 November 1999.

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