Valaida Snow (1904-56) had a unique life. While she was the second significant female trumpeter in jazz history (following Dolly Jones), in reality she was a strong talent who simply deserved to be called a top-notch swing soloist. She was also a singer, an arranger, a dancer, and a colorful personality. If Valaida were around today, she might have been a media superstar, but back in the 1930s she had to move to Europe to gain some of the fame that she deserved, and she stayed abroad a little too long.
Before she made her recording debut in 1933, Valaida had already been a performer for 15 years, appeared in quite a few shows (including the Noble Sissle/Eubie Blake revues Bamville and Rhapsody In Black), and had sung and played trumpet in Shanghai, the Soviet Union, the Middle East and throughout Europe. She spent the peak of her career (1935-41) recording and performing in London, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. Arrested in Denmark in 1941 (probably for drug charges), she spent two years in prison before being returned to the US. While Valaida resumed performing, recording as late as 1953, she never became a big name in America.
In her career, Valaida Snow recorded 64 selections counting two that were made for Soundies. The single disc Swing Is The Thing has 26 of the best titles and they cover her entire recording career (1933-53). The opener, “Maybe I’m To Blame” with the Earl H
