Tess Gardella

Therese Gardella (December 19, 1894 – January 3, 1950) was an American performer on the stage and screen whose stage persona was Aunt Jemima. She was of Italian descent. The Aunt Jemima brand name used for pancake mix and related products in the United States was patterned after her performance persona. She performed on both stage and screen, usually in blackface. Tess was born in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, to John and Louisa Gardella. She came to New York City in 1918, singing in dances and nightclubs and also political rallies.

She died of diabetes in Brooklyn, New York, on January 3, 1950.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 19, 1894 (Wilkes-Barre), Died January 3, 1950 (Brooklyn)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

Notes: Real name of performer Aunt Jemima.

See Also: Jemima, Aunt

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Trial 1922-05-09-01] 10-in. 5/9/1922 Georgia Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1922-05-09-02] 10-in. 5/9/1922 Got to cool my puppies now Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1922-05-25-01] 10-in. 5/25/1922 If you don't believe I love you, look what a fool I've been Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1922-05-25-06] 10-in. 5/25/1922 Georgia Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1923-08-24-01] 10-in. 8/24/1923 My sweetie went away Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1924-05-22-04] 10-in. 5/22/1924 New kind of man Tess Gardella Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1927-06-21-01] 10-in. 6/21/1927 Takes a better man Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W143709 10-in. 3/25/1927 (Does she love me?) Positively—absolutely Aunt Jemima ; Mal Hallett Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W143710 10-in. 3/25/1927 My idea of heaven (Is to be in love with you) Aunt Jemima ; Mal Hallett Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W145641 10-in. 2/14/1928 Can't help lovin' dat man Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W145642 10-in. 2/14/1928 Didn't I tell you (That you'd come back)? Aunt Jemima Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gardella, Tess," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116868.

Gardella, Tess. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116868.

"Gardella, Tess." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116868

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