One of the more obscure characters of the classic female blues era, Lucille Hegamin was actually the second African-American artist to release a blues record. She was just pipped to the post by Mamie Smith.

Like Smith, Lucille sang in a frothier pop style than the women who would follow in her footsteps like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Lucille’s stand out recordings include You May Be Fast But Mamma's Gonna Slow You Down and her slightly naughty 1922 hit He May Be Your Man But He Comes To See Me Sometime. Ah, how she loved those long song titles…

Lucille retired from the music scene in 1934 to take up nursing but like many blues artists she popped back up on the radar in the '60s when the blues revival took hold.

Listen: Lucille Hegamin - You May Be Fast But Mamma's Gonna Slow You Down

Listen: Lucille Hegamin and her Blue Flame Syncopators - He May Be Your Man But He Comes To See Me Sometime (1925)