Mary Thomas Flood Gates Ferguson (1900-1983) was local jazz singer and radio personality of the 1920s who signed with a major record label and made a modest splash on the music scene before eventually giving up her career for a husband and child. She is shown below in a photo that accompanied an article announcing a then upcoming performance for the Shreveport Aeronautic Association.
Shreveport Times 13-Jan-1928, Page 9
Photographs of flip sides of one of her records offered several years ago on an online auction.
Roots Vinyl Guide Auction (closed)
A period advertisement for same.
Pensacola (FL) 11-Mar-1928, Page 20
While with Columbia, Mary cut at least three records (six songs) in what was noted to be the "Chicago Style." In addition to the two previously mentioned were the following:
Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me? / You'll Leave Me Blue
If I Only Believed In You / I Had You-I Lost You-I Found You
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mary Flood Gates (vocalist)," accessed December 11, 2017
EARLY LIFE
Mary was born in Mississippi in 1900 to Martin Thomas and Edna May (Anding) Flood. The family, including younger siblings Martin and Margaret, was reported living in Brookhaven at the time of the 1910 U. S. Census, and in Columbia during the 1920 count.
In July 1921, she married Oscar Cecil Gates in Arkansas. At the time, she was 21 and a resident of Shreveport; while he was 25, a native of Richmond, Virginia; and had once been a resident of New York City, and of Raleigh, NC the prior year. His trade was in printing and linotype. Their marriage was apparently very brief.
The first mention of her musical abilities appeared in 1922, where it was reported she served as an accompanist at a local recital that also featured her younger sister Margaret. In 1925, she played piano behind her sister's vocals on a program broadcast from the Hotel Youree on KWKH radio. One number was aptly titled "Baby Sister Blues." Note two songs penned by Margaret were performed as piano solos.
Below, Margaret is shown as a student at Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University,
1924 Louisiana State Normal Potpourri (yearbook)
At a radio trade show held in December 1925 at the Hotel Youree, featuring distributors and dealers of radio equipment and supplies, Mary was director for a program of musical entertainment and dancing. It was said she had more than seven years experience in that area.
Shreveport Times 02-Dec-1925, Page 9
The 1926 Shreveport city directory identified Mary as a sales lady at the local Brook Mays music store.
Shreveport Times 14-Apr-1926, Page 5
Over the years, she appeared frequently in newspaper social columns, performing herself or accompanying others at church services and other functions such as weddings.
A January 1926 advertisement for an appearance by child actor Annabelle Magnus at the New Majestic Theater identified Mary as a "popular KWKH entertainer."
Shreveport Times 04-Jan-1926, Page 7
Shreveport Times 05-Jan-1926, Page 8
El Paso Herald-Post 07-Jul-1933, Page 6
Mary identified below on the bill of a radio program.
Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1926, Page 9
Shreveport Times 17-Apr-1927, Page 4
Listen to two of Mary's recordings:
The 1928 Shreveport city directory listed Mary as a music teacher living at 1821 Marshall Street.
The performance is recapped below. In addition to accompanying Annabelle, Mary sand two songs herself - "Sleepy Time Gal" and "Nobody Seems to care. She is again identified as "popular KWKH entertainer" as well as director of radio programs.
Shreveport Times 05-Jan-1926, Page 8
Annabelle Magnus was a child actor who appeared in several films in the 1920s and 1930s, said here to have Shreveport connections. A 1933 El Paso newspaper article, identifying her as a local to that city, stated she had "outgrown the 'Our Gang' comedies," however her name is not included on any found lists of cast members.
Mary identified below on the bill of a radio program.
Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1926, Page 9
In April 1927 it was announced Mary (incorrectly identified as "Miss") had received a recording contract with what turned out to be Columbia Records. Note the song titles of her demo recordings match her discography of what was ultimately released. She was said to be the "first woman from the south" so chosen, and to possess a deep contralto voice that fit the "semi-jazz" ballads she sang.
Shreveport Times 17-Apr-1927, Page 4
Listen to two of Mary's recordings:
The 1928 Shreveport city directory listed Mary as a music teacher living at 1821 Marshall Street.
She was described singing at a Russian-themed charity ball put on by the Panhellenic Association in February 1929, where her outfit was described "a black circular skirt appliqued with Russian fixtures. A turquoise blue bolero and a smocked blouse completed her costume. Mrs. Gates wore a colorful red and gold headdress."
LIFE AFTER MUSIC
In July 1929 it was announced she had married John Howard Ferguson of New Orleans and the two would be living in Dallas.
Those plans apparently changed abruptly, as the 1930 census shows the couple, with three month-old son John Jr., residing in New Orleans. By 1940, they are reported in San Antonio, having lived there at least five years. In a 02-Mar-1951 San Antonio Light cooking article, she was referred to as a "well-known food authority" and "formerly one of Good Housekeeping's advisory board members. A 1959 article noted she had been the catering business for 15 years.
San Antonio Light 07-Dec-1952, Page 9-C
Husband Howard (as he went by) passed away in 1956. Mary died 15-Nov-1983, and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.
Husband Howard (as he went by) passed away in 1956. Mary died 15-Nov-1983, and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.
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