Blossom Seeley (1886-1974), like the better known Sophie Tucker (who was six months older), was a vaudeville performer with a strong voice (a necessity in the pre-microphone days), a saucy style, and an enthusiastic approach who was a big star on stage and on records. Billed as the “Queen Of Syncopation,” she actually introduced “Some Of These Days” in 1910, a year before Tucker made it into a standard with her recording.
Seeley, who was born Minnie Guyer, began performing onstage when she was ten as “The Little Blossom,” made her first recordings in 1911, starred opposite Al Jolson (who was an influence on her forceful style), and was a major name in the 1920s. Among the songs that she helped make famous were “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby,” “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans,” “Rose Room,” “Lazy,” and “Everybody Loves My Baby.” Seeley teamed up with Benny Fields (her third husband who was eight years her junior) for decades. After having a low profile in the 1940s, Seeley and Fields were portrayed in the 1951 film Somebody Loves Me and that led to a comeback. Both were still in their musical prime and, while there was some nostalgia in their performances, there was also plenty of surprisingly youthful energy (Seeley turned 65 in 1951) and a desire to work hard again. She remained active into the mid-1960s.
Yet despite that, Blossom Seeley has been largely
