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.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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 November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/116868.

Gardella, Tess. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/116868.

"Gardella, Tess." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.