Una Marson (1905-1965) was a Jamaican feminist, activist, writer, and broadcaster. She became the first Black producer at the BBC with her show Calling the West Indies, which connected West Indian migrants with family and loved ones during the turbulent wartime years.
Mar 19
5 min
Cordell Jackson (1923-2004) was a Memphis-based guitarist, songwriter and producer and an often-overlooked pioneer in early rock music. She was in her sixties by the time she received national attention for her masterful guitar skills, earning her the title “The Rock n’ Roll Granny.
Mar 18
4 min
Gauhar Jaan (1873-1930) was one of the first Indian voices captured on gramophone records. She was a famous entertainer in India, who could perform in over seven languages. She was a regular entertainer in royal courts across the country.
Mar 15
4 min
Victoria Hernandez (1897-1998) was a Latin music entrepreneur and the owner of two vibrant Puerto Rican music stores in New York City. She was a beloved figure in her community for her work helping Puerto Rican musicians make and sell their music. Her store, now known as Casa Amadeo, is the oldest Latin music store in New York City today.
Mar 14
5 min
Alice Guy Blaché (1873-1968) is widely considered the first female filmmaker. She experimented with sound, color, and casting in the nascent days of film making and produced hundreds of films — and then was written out of history.
Mar 13
6 min
Sophie Germain (1776-1831) was a French mathematician and physicist who contributed to the study of acoustics, elasticity, and number theory. She was forced to assume a fake male identity to have her work taken seriously, but her efforts paved the way for further breakthrough discoveries in mathematics.
Mar 12
6 min
Maud Cuney Hare (1874–1936) was a musicologist, pianist, author, and activist during the early Jim Crow era. She is praised for creating one of the earliest collections of African-American music. Maud was also part of Niagara Movement and wrote for the NAACP’s magazine, running in the same circles as W.E.B. Du Bois and other Black Bostonian intellectuals.
Mar 11
5 min
This International Women’s Day we have a special episode of Womanica in partnership with iHeart Radio’s initiative, Pass the Mic. Tune in to hear host Jenny Kaplan speak to her mom, U.S. Representative Kathy Manning, about why women's voices matter. Then, we’ll get into today’s Womanican: Mary “Dee” Dudley (1912-1964). She was the first Black woman disc jockey in the US. Through her fan-favorite show Movin’ Around, she pioneered a new form of radio that seamlessly blended news, music, and culture, creating the blueprint for radio personalities today
Mar 8
12 min
Jackie Cochran (c. 1906-1980) was the first woman to break the sound barrier. In her time as a pilot, she held more records than any other contemporary aviator.
Mar 7
6 min
Gal Costa (1945-2022) was an iconic vocalist of Brazilian pop music. As one of the leading acts of the tropicalia movement in the late 1960s, Gal’s music reflected the social unrest of Brazilian youth under an oppressive military dictatorship.
Mar 6
5 min
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